Lancaster Lime Works

06/16/2026

🌟 Big Congratulations to Seciltek! 🌟
We’re thrilled to celebrate Seciltek on achieving Dap Habitat and Eco Platform EPD verification for their entire range of premium Natural Hydraulic Limes: NHL 2.0, NHL 3.5, and NHL 5.0!

This milestone highlights Seciltek’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, transparency, and high-performance eco-friendly construction solutions. Builders, architects, and specifiers can now specify these exceptional NHLs with even greater confidence — knowing they meet the highest environmental standards.

A huge well done to the entire Seciltek team! 👏 Your dedication to innovation and the planet is truly inspiring.
Ready to build greener? Discover the verified power of Seciltek NHLs today.
Order directly from our website!

EPD DAPHabitat NaturalHydraulicLime SustainableMaterials ConstructionInnovation BuildBetter

06/16/2026

Anyone interested in lightweight insulating blocks that are made from recycled materials,
100% Natural - made with just lime as the binder?
We have not put these into production yet- but see huge potential for them.

06/16/2026

Anyone interested in lightweight insulating blocks that are made from recycled materials, 100% Natural - made with just lime as the binder?

We have not put these into production yet- but see huge potential for them.

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

🎥 A powerful reminder from a 2015 video…
When it comes to historic masonry buildings, the materials you put on them can literally mean life or death for the structure.
The key is understanding permeability — how easily water v***r can pass through a material.
On the “perm” scale:
• 0 = completely impermeable (like glass)
• 100 = extremely breathable (like a paper towel)
Historic masonry walls — especially those with traditional lime mortar — are quite breathable. Old lime mortar typically has a perm rating around 70.
That means anything you apply over it (new mortar, paint, coatings, or sealers) should have a perm rating of 70 or higher so the wall can still “breathe.”
Unfortunately, many modern materials do the opposite:
• Portland cement mortars: usually in the mid-20s
• Latex paints: often in the teens
These lower-perm materials trap moisture inside the wall. Over time, that trapped moisture leads to the kind of damage you see in this video — spalling, crumbling, and slow destruction.
Even more importantly: it’s the acidity in the water that does the real damage. But when the wall can dry out quickly, the acid doesn’t have time to concentrate and eat away at the stone or brick.
Simple rule for historic buildings: ✅ Keep the walls dry
✅ Let them breathe
✅ Never trap moisture inside
The science of water movement and perm ratings is deep, but the takeaway is straightforward: breathable materials preserve history. Impermeable ones destroy it.
Respect the original materials. Your building will thank you. 🏛️

06/08/2026

💧 WATER 💧
Specifically- Carbonic Acid (which is created from water and carbon dioxide), is the destroyer of all things masonry related - modern masonry as well as historic masonry.

The building in this picture isn’t that old. But due to a leaking downspout connection (as shown in the zoomed in picture) we have a lot of damage.

Basically the water (carbonic acid), is dissolving this Portland cement mortar and creating an environment for an entire ecosystem of moss and algae.

Water is not a respecter of mortars. Water will eventually destroy:
💥Portland Cement Mortars Type S, N and O etc.
💥NHL Mortars of all sorts
💥Carbonating Non-hydraulic Air Lime Mortars

Keep your building dry as much as possible.

06/02/2026

The Organic Mulch Problem

Organic mulch (wood chips, bark, etc.) decomposes through microbial activity, releasing significant amounts
of CO₂. Rainwater percolating through the mulch absorbs this extra CO₂, forming additional carbonic acid that can slowly dissolve lime mortar.

More importantly, organic mulch holds moisture like a sponge when placed directly against the foundation. This leads to high moisture levels at the foundation level, the moisture is absorbed into the porous lime mortar - which dramatically accelerates acid dissolution, salt crystallization, and biological growth. The result is the same pattern of interior salt deposits and structural mortar failure seen with prolonged w**d killer use.

Signup with for this Saturday morning class where we will have an in depth discussion about water and historic masonry

06/02/2026

🔥Before and after pics! 💥

Combining skill and our amazing lime plaster is a recipe for timeless beauty!

Lancaster Lime Works naturally healthy lime plaster contains nothing but lime, sand and water. It takes real skill for this level of work- but with practice comes beauty!

Our website is a wealth of knowledge and information offered for free to the world of people who demand natural products. We hope you are taking advantage of it!!!

05/31/2026

Throwback to a historic restoration project 🏠🔨🧱🧱 Chimneys need a good hat!

Properly capping a historic chimney isn’t just about looks — it’s essential for protection and longevity. In these pictures we installed a custom-cut stone cap on this beautiful old brick chimney.

Don’t rely on a mortar crown - they won’t last

The stone cap:
✅ Provides an adequate drip edge on all four sides to ensure water drips free from the chimney
✅ Seals the top against rain, snow, and moisture that can crack mortar and damage the flue
✅ It’s the freeze/thaw cycle that destroys the masonry.
✅ Heavy enough that the wind won’t blow it off
✅ Keep it dry

Historic homes deserve detailed historic-level care. Never skip the cap — your chimney will thank you!

RoofingLife PreservationMatters

05/28/2026

Let’s talk real structural masonry 🪨
The mortar between stones and bricks isn’t “glue” holding everything together. It’s a cushion — it spreads the load evenly across the stones.
The real strength of the wall comes from the mason’s skill: carefully fitting and interlocking each piece so the weight transfers properly through the entire structure.
When done right, there are no weak pressure points. No cracking under the building’s weight. Just solid, timeless integrity.
That’s why you can even build dry-laid stone walls (no mortar at all) that stand for centuries — as long as every stone is perfectly placed and the load is distributed across the full face of each piece.
The Romans proved it. Some of their dry-laid structures are still standing today.
This principle is everything when it comes to proper historical masonry restoration.
Here’s a dry-laid stone wall we built years ago. No mortar. Just skill, patience, and beautiful stonework. Still looking strong and stunning.
What do you think — would you trust a dry-laid wall like this on your property?