Lime Mortar for Old + New Construction

One of the goals of the Lacko Castle project has been to develop methods for the conservation and repair of architectural heritage buildings - but also to pave the way for lime plaster and traditional craftsmanship to be used on historic buildings as well as in new construction.

Plaster made from lime is environmentally friendly, repairable and sustainable. Despite this, lime plaster on historic buildings has been replaced in modern times by plaster containing Portland cement - which has caused severe damage to historic buildings. Experts, researchers, craftsmen, manufacturers and authorities are now assembling for the 10th Jubilee Conference on lime and lime mortar, with the aim of promoting historic buildings, as well as new buildings, access to traditional building materials.

Lacko Castle in Sweden, dating from the Middle Ages and rebuilt and extended in the 17th century, was replastered with cementitious mortar in the 1960s.

The plaster on the castle's 10,000 square meter facade today shows serious signs of decay due to damp, frost and salts.