Craig Talley's Page

"Shawn, I am a professional mason and conservation consultant. You are looking at a lime mortar project that will not use a bag or mixer and other modern tools. Feel free to call me for advice."

"keeping all things equal will result in a status quo, shoot for the high 50's, the air will then have the chance to evaporate moisture and eventually dry out the basement for a period long enough to get a pre spring coating of NHL white…"

"Your proposed detail is fine, I would still cut that into a full size roof to wall flashing and continue that along to the adjacent wall and then cover with full ice and water shield from Grace or Tamko the full size of the overhang (36"). Good…"

"Ask Andy to send you some 80lb bags of NHL 3.5 white coat grade, mixed with the mortar it makes a perfect venetian plaster that you can finish with a cedar float or horsehair plaster brush. Its "fat mix" 1 part lime to 1 part aggregrate."

"Red Queen, Long before the advent of building codes that required exterior waterproofing on the foundation the powder you are seeing was quite common. It is called Efflorescence and its the mineral salts, in most cases a Calcium that is leached from…"

"Martin, Soda blasting is inexpensive and had I not seen it used professionally in Europe on old welsh cottages and Schist stone I would say no way too! Having so many years of experience sometimes leads me to contempt prior to investigation on new…"

"We run our classes on the job and this winter maybe a few in various contractor warehouses, It's time and material intensive and I am not sure as effective as job training. (OJT) British columbia is remarkably well informed in many disciplines…"

"Part of my professional job is to specify strippers and cleaners that are safe for the masonry yet removed old coatings. I woulld look closely at Eacochem and Cathedral Stone for good products. They sell Arte Mundit style latex peel and clean too…"

"The stones are well in the range of restoration. Some of the stuff that falls of will be savedand crushed to be added to a bag of NHL 5 straight hydraulic lime that you will mix with crushed limestone medium grade and pigment to repair those on the…"

"Another good question Martin! Natural Hydraulic Lime unlike cements that have a been combined from either quicklime, slaked or prepared lime putty does not come with a pouch of cement to add to the mix. The Cement in Hudraulic lime is actually…"

"Martin, great question Foundations, seawalls and other stone exposed to the earth and elements benefit fro ma stronger NHL in grade 5 called emminent in the european lexicon and EN standards. The NHL 3.5 would probably be the right choice if the…"

"I did check out your web site, and your credentials Great wood working and other skills, very impressive! I doubt your historic house returned test results for modern cement mortar. Your mix is still wrong, as wrong as the lab report. 200 dollars…"

"Bravo! The mortar is a little wet for my liking ( less water = more binder and better carbonation without shrink cracks) but you nailed the principles of lime mortar and the reason for its use! Good job!"

"Well I would prefer to see it myself, take some samples and do the usual tests. You can however do your own kitchen sink chemistry. Take a good sized peice about 2 to 3 inches square and remove the paint layers with a paint or drywall…"

"I still would have to not approve of that mix, the majority of builders and too many people well versed in other disciplines of the restoration science and arts do not understand the use of OPC (ordinary portland cement) as being a detriment to all…"

"Do not use Portland Cement on historic masonry! It will destroy the weaker materials around it over time. Suppiers: PA lime works, Andy DeGruchy Virginia Limeworks, Jeff Price The lime is not Hydrated but rather a Lime putty made from calcined…"