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Kalkmörtel

Warum Kalkmörtel?

Bis weit ins 19 Jahrhundert gab es nur Kalkmörtel, das heute übliche Bindemittel Zement war noch nicht erfunden. Die Herstellung von Kalkmörtel war eine teure und aufwendige Sache. Kalkstein musste in Kalköfen unter Verwendung grosser Mengen von Holz gebrannt werden. In Gegenden ohne Kalkstein musste der gebrannte Kalk über weite Distanzen transportiert werden.  Viele Gebäude der "anonymen Architektur" sind mit Natursteinmauern gebaut. Das Mauerwerk dieser Gebäude wurde "trocken" gebaut. Oft wurden die Stein-Zwischenräume  im Mauerkern als Winddichtung Asche, Lehm oder Mist beigemischt. Erst nach dem Bau des Mauerwerks wurden die Mauerflächen (wenn erforderlich) von aussen mit Kalkmörtel ausgefugt und verputzt. Zweck des Verputzes war: Wind- und Wasserdichtigkeit, Schutz vor Tieren im Mauerwerk (Mäuse, Reptilien, Insekten) und Repräsentation (man zeigte eine schön verputzte Fassade wenn man es sich leisten konnte). Stand mehr Geld zur Verfügung, wurde Kalkmörtel grosszügiger eingesetzt. 

Heute wird Kalkmörtel wieder geschätzt. Gegenüber den modernen zementgebundenen Mörteln weist er folgende Vorteile auf:

Technik

Kalkmörtel ist der geeignete Mörtel für Natursteinmauerwerk. Er ist weicher als die Mauersteine, kann Bewegungen, die sich aus Temperatur und Feuchtigkeitsschwankungen ergeben, aufnehmen ohne zu reissen. Kalkmörtel ist diffusionsoffen, Feuchtigkeit im Mauerwerk kann ungehindert verdunsten.

Ästhetik

Die Erdfarben des Kalkmörtels und der Kalkfarben wirken harmonisch. Die leicht verwaschenen oder changierenden Farben der Kalkmörtelflächen wirken lebendig.

Ökologie

Die verwendeten Materialien Kalk und Sand gehen nach Ende der Lebensdauer des Bauwerks als Kalk und Sand in die Natur zurück.

Examples of old lime mortars

Shown are not only "beautiful" intact examples, but also examples of weathered and damaged mortar and plaster. From such examples, much can be learned about the composition, processing and structure of the mortar.

Roscoff, Ile de Batz

Lime Plaster on a building on the ile de Batz. Note the shells in the plaster. The lime of this plaster was burnt from shells. Some of the shells were not burnt and remained intact in the mortar

Lime_Framura

Rot gefärbter Kalkputz in Framura, Ligurien

Red colored lime mortar at Framura / Italy

Maps_Lime_Single


Lime_Maggia

Examples of old lime mortars in the Maggia valley in the south of Switzerland


Lime_Bavona

Examples of lime mortars in the Bavona valley in the South part of Switzerland.


Lime_Kreta

Old lime mortars at Crete / Greece


Lime_Jura

Beautiful rose colored lime mortar. The rose color stems from impurities in the lime stone which was burnt.

Lime mortar

Why lime mortar?

Until well into the 19th century, there was only lime mortar. The binding agent cement, which is common today, had not yet been invented. The production of lime mortar was expensive and time-consuming. Limestone had to be burned in lime kilns using large quantities of wood. In areas without limestone, the burnt lime had to be transported over long distances.  Many buildings of the "vernacular architecture" are built with natural stone walls. The masonry of these buildings was often built with drystone masonry. Often the gaps in the masonry core were filled with ash, clay or manure to stop wind passing through. After the masonry was built the surfaces of the masonry (if necessary) were pointed from the outside with lime mortar. The purpose of pointing was: protection against wind and water, protection from animals in the masonry (mice, reptiles, insects) and representation (if you could afford it you showed a beautifully plastered facade ). If more money was available, lime mortar was used more generously.

Today, lime mortar is again appreciated. Compared to modern cementitious mortars, it has the following advantages:

Technical reasons

Lime mortar is the most suitable mortar for natural stone masonry. It is softer than the masonry stones, can absorb movements resulting from temperature and moisture fluctuations without cracking. Lime mortar is open to diffusion, moisture in the masonry can evaporate freely.

Aesthetics

The earth colors of the lime mortar and the lime paints have a harmonious effect. The slightly washed-out or iridescent colors of the lime mortar surfaces have a lively effect.

Ecology

The materials used, lime and sand, return to nature as lime and sand at the end of the structure's service life.

Examples of old lime mortars

Shown are not only "beautiful" intact examples, but also examples of weathered and damaged mortar and plaster. From such examples, much can be learned about the composition, processing and structure of the mortar.

Roscoff, Ile de Batz

Lime Plaster on a building on the ile de Batz. Note the shells in the plaster. The lime of this plaster was burnt from shells. Some of the shells were not burnt and remained intact in the mortar

Lime_Framura

Rot gefärbter Kalkputz in Framura, Ligurien

Red colored lime mortar at Framura / Italy

Maps_Lime_Single


Lime_Maggia

Examples of old lime mortars in the Maggia valley in the south of Switzerland


Lime_Bavona

Examples of lime mortars in the Bavona valley in the South part of Switzerland.


Lime_Kreta

Old lime mortars at Crete / Greece


Lime_Jura

Beautiful rose colored lime mortar. The rose color stems from impurities in the lime stone which was burnt.