This masterclass aims to demonstrate how there is a place for all mortars by explaining about the mortars we have available today. These range from hot mixed mortars closely replicating historic mortars to formulated ready mixed mortars and everything else in between.

Research and analysis have helped us understand why we should specify mortars to closely replicate those originally used, however, modern pressures force us to look at mortars more practically. This masterclass looks at all mortars and advantages and disadvantages of various applications in different examples.

Course suitability:

This seminar is aimed at those specifying or working with mortars including building contractors, planners, architects, surveyors, engineers and other heritage professionals and students.

Speakers and Topic includes:

Simon Ayres (Lime Green) – Production, uses and benefits of ready mixed mortars

Kinlay Laidlaw (Director of Laidlaw Associates Building Surveying Ltd) – Presenting his work using injected lime grouts at the Burns Monument, Alloway

Becky Little & Tom Morton (Arc Architects and RebEarth) – Earth mortars, constituents, and traditional techniques from our earth-built heritage in Scotland

Will Napier (Adams Napier Partnership) – Traditional lime plastering skills in Scotland

Tim Meek on his Technical Publication No 33 for HES (well worth looking this up on theengineshed.scot website to download it for free) – the range of masonry pointing and joint finishing styles found on Scotland’s traditional buildings

Dr Callum Graham (Historic Environment Scotland) – petrographic analysis of ‘harl as you go’ mortars as part of Tim Meek’s wider PhD thesis – demonstrating that ‘harl’ (common Scottish word for render was ubiquitous and that it should also be recognized as a single element within a complete building system and not viewed in isolation to the other processes within the construction of the wall.

Gordon Robb (LTM Group) – case study of all the mortars you used at the recent refurbishment of Provan Hall, Glasgow including the lime concrete floor and clay/lime plaster plus harling mixes.