Timber Framers Guild Forums General This Old Building Field stone mason

Good old utube, I will have to spend an evening or two there.

Notice the fellow in the short pants, I wonder If he has any burn marks.

Tim

Hi Guys;

Just one overdue comment. There have been buildings built in Maine using sea water in the lime mortar and they did not hold up. Don't use salt water.

I can't say I have ever seen a mortar laid wall in Northern New England, just dry laid, sometimes pointed with mortar from the inside in a cellar.

Jim

Jim, nice to see your comments and question. Also interesting timing, I have just started a stone wall under the building attaching the house and barn. I have been wondering if I should use mortar or not. I started with a little dry premixed lime from Virginia Lime Works, I had some left over from a different job, laying the stone with mortar. Laying the stone with no mortar is much more relaxing, I can now feel better about it and point later. I will use a bed of mortar to set the sills on. The mortar will be to keep the cold winter drafts at bay.

Tim