Mortars for Repair of Traditional Masonry

Repair mortars are needed for replacing mortar in damaged or severely weathered masonry mortar joints (repointing), for reconstruction of deteriorated masonry, and for renewal of rendering. The main components in a mortar mix are sand, binder and water. Additional materials may be added to modify the properties or appearance of the mortar. The intention of this article is to raise awareness of issues involved in the choice of mortars for the repair of mortar joints in traditional masonry (usually with thicker walls and weaker mortars than modern construction) by providing a brief overview of mortar binders, performance requirements, and mortar mix types. Work is ongoing to assess performance requirements and how to achieve them.