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Mortar
A material used to fill the gaps between stones, blocks or bricks in wall-building. It adheres to the components of the wall, creating a structural block. Traditional mortar was made with lime and sand, or clay was used as mortar. After the invention of Portland cement in the 1850s it was used as a substitute for lime, and is still used in that way. In finely-jointed ashlar a putty of lime in linseed oil is sometimes used. Generally speaking, mortar should be softer than the materials surrounding it, otherwise it may encourage decay. In historic buildings lime-based mortars are now preferred to cement-based ones.
Related Words
Ashlar; Cement, cementitious; Lime mortar, render, limewashing
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