Technical Details
- Individual Learning Accounts (ILA)
- No
- Requires C1 & C2?
- No
- Technical Level
- Practical Level
Online Seminar / 2.5 Hour CPD - Gain a greater understanding of the process of Mortar and Stone analysis!
Cost
£35.00 + VAT
(£42.00 incl VAT)
Many projects demanded that samples of historic mortars be analysed and it is all too often a ‘tick box’ exercise required to gain listed building consent or to meet funder’s requirements. However, analysis of existing and historic mortars is an important step in the creation of well matched and appropriate mortar specifications for undertaking successful repairs.
This seminar will allow attendees to gain a greater understanding of the process of mortar analysis and to be able to understand and use the results of mortar analysis to create better specifications for replacement mortars.
Stone analysis may also be required to gain listed building consent or to meet funder’s requirements. Simply undertaking stone analysis by petrographic means is only half the story and missing out on vital information on the physical characteristics of stone, for example density, water absorption, porosity and capillary coefficient can lead to the incorrect replacement stone being recommended, risking the accelerated decay of surrounding historic masonry.
Course Suitability
This seminar is aimed at those working with traditional buildings including building contractors, planners, architects, surveyors, engineers and other heritage professionals and students.
Learning Outcomes
Mortar Analysis
Attendees will grasp the methodology of taking representative samples of mortar, evaluating them visually and the analysis process to inform a matching mortar mix.
Attendees will also gain the knowledge to be able to distinguish between cement bound mortars, traditional ‘hot lime’ mortars and conventional lime mortars.
Stone Analysis
This seminar will allow attendees to gain a greater understanding of the process of stone analysis and be able to understand and use the results of stone analysis to create better specifications for replacement stone masonry units.
Course Programme
This seminar will cover the mortar analysis process from removal of samples from the structure, laboratory analysis through to interpreting the results. SLCT carry the UK’s largest sand and aggregate database and hold the largest historic mortars archive in the world with samples from the Great Wall of China to the White House, Washington DC.
There will be a short break then we will look at the stone analysis process from removal of samples from the structure, laboratory analysis through to interpreting the results.
Q&A session at the end
Topics Include
MORTAR
- What is a mortar?
- Types of mortars
- Lime mortars
- How is lime manufacture?
- Mortar function
- Material Analysis
- Mortar Analysis Techniques: Standard Mortar Analysis, X-ray Diffraction Analysis, Petrographic Analysis
STONE
- Basic Geology
- Rocks
- Minerals
- Why Stone Matching?
- Material Analysis
- Stone Analysis Procedure: Physical Tests, Petrographic Analysis
(£42.00 incl VAT)
Starting on: Dec. 8, 2026: