MAKE YOUR OWN LIME
1st – 3rd October
An introduction to small scale lime production and the uses of lime, with practical demonstrations.
COURSE OUTLINE
The course will cover the following topics, with cases studies, and include a practical demonstration of burning lime in the CAT kiln, slaking the lime and a lime plastering demonstration.
Why Use Lime?
A brief explanation of some of the main reasons for using lime including that it allows buildings to breathe, provides a comfortable environment, is self-healing, provides good adhesion, protects adjacent materials, assists evaporation, has good workability, can be durable, is beautiful, has environmental and ecological benefits, and can enhance regional identity and diversity.
History and Durability
Recorded uses of lime binders over thousands of years with observations on the reasons for their durability. Examples of lasting monuments that have used lime binders in their construction and which can be seen today include examples from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, Saxon, Norman and other medieval churches, cathedrals and castles. Bridges, mills and country houses up to the 18th and 19th centuries. The development of hydraulic limes for engineering works in lighthouses, canals, quays and foundations up to the end of the 19th century. Examples of modern uses of lime.
Lime Burning and Production
The development of lime burning methods and the effect of various techniques. Daub covered heaps, pit kilns, vertical shaft and rotary kilns and their effect on the finished product, fuel efficiency and the rate of production. Production methods including slaking to putty, slaking to dry hydrate, sieving and air separation. Burning for demonstration and research, the research and production of local building limes.
Building Limes Origin, Classification and Standards
A description of the geological formation of building limes and the way this has affected their chemistry and performance. A brief history of the research and development of natural and artificial hydraulic limes. The way in which their use was developed for civil engineering in the 18th and 19th centuries. A brief description of the work by Smeaton, Vicat and Dibden to research and identify different classes of building limes. Test methods for quality control and compliance with the standards, common factors and similarities to the ASTM standards on building limes. The relative importance and practical value of laboratory and field tests.
Specification in Practice
A summary of typical design considerations and solutions with worked examples in connection with specifying the use of building limes.
COURSE TUTOR
Stafford Holmes, Dip.Arch., ARIBA
Architect specialising in the care and repair of historic buildings. Developed a keen interest in conservation and the use of traditional building materials after working overseas in association with the Intermediate Technology Development Group. Initiated research programmes for the use of local building materials in developing countries and for conservation in the U.K. Member of the British Standards Institute Committee for Building Limes, on behalf of The Building Limes Forum.
Author, with others, of Lime and Other Alternative Cements, and with Michael Wingate, Building with Lime. Author of Evaluation of Limestone and Building Limes in Scotland for Historic Scotland and joint author of Hydraulic Lime Mortar.
