Mortars for masonry, plastering and rendering need to possess good properties, as well in fresh state, as in hardened state. Mortar is essential to hold the bricks together, or to create fashioned surfaces for internal and external wall structures. To challenge the construction needs, and in order to be healty and green, Carmeuse is offering lime based SuperCalco® solutions to architects, contractors and investors.
Problems
Owners involved in construction or renovation aim to use reliable solutions and materials. These can positively contribute to a building’s functional, aesthetic and sustainability requirements, in addition to the well-being of people who live and work inside the building.
Designers, such as architects or engineers, need a reliable end product that meets owners’ needs. They must combine the short-term requirements of the contractor, who needs to work quickly and economically, and the long-term requirements of the building’s owner, who needs a durable, attractive and trouble-free construction.
Craftsmen look for workable and consistent products that enable easy handling. The joints and beds of masonry mortar must be readily and completely filled, while the units must be placed and their position adjusted quickly and easily. Mortars, renders and plasters must have properties that help a craftsman to work smoothly, quickly and economically with minimum waste and consistent work quality.
Solutions
Workability
With SuperCalco®, a fine particle binding agent with a very large surface area, the mix can hold a greater quantity of water. It also enhances the fluidity of the mix, thus improving its stability.
Work quality
The smoother and more workable consistency of SuperCalco® mortars – plus the retention of water in the mortar immediately after application – help to promote good workmanship. This enables the complete filling of beds, easier perpending, and smooth finishing of the plaster. The final result is high-quality joint finishing and tooling.
Cost savings
SuperCalco® mortars can be more economical to use. Thanks to a combination of workability, water retention and easier use – with more consistent and accurate joint filling and better adhesion – there is typically less waste. Better quality workmanship will also reduce the likelihood of rework or remedial measures.
Bond strength
SuperCalco® mortars have excellent adhesion and bonding properties, thanks to their high degree of workability, stickiness and water retention. They are also able to create continuous bonds with brick surfaces and can completely fill the spaces within them.
Water leakage
Water penetration into masonry and buildings is essentially a failure of the building system to prevent moisture ingress. Water is the driving force behind deterioration and can fundamentally affect the performance and durability of many components in buildings. Masonry walls constructed with SuperCalco mortars have good resistance to water leakage.
Durability
Until the late 20th century, almost all masonry buildings used lime-based mortars. Their durability and long-term performance are highlighted by the myriad of historic buildings found in our towns and cities.
High flexural strength combined with suitable compressive strength
Inappropriate mortar strength relative to the units being mortared together is a common cause of cracking. Softer lime-based mortars offer greater elasticity and help to accommodate minor movements and volume changes, which reduces the need for movement joints. SuperCalco mortars are more flexible and can absorb a high degree of deformation before breakage.
Environmental performance
At the end of a building’s life, SuperCalco® mortars allow building materials to be more easily re-used, contributing to resource efficiency.
- The numerous historic buildings in our cities show that lime-based mortars and finishes effectively contribute to long-lasting performance.
- Lime-based mortars are generally softer than bricks. This makes the mortar easy to remove without causing damage: bricks originally laid with lime-based mortars can be cleaned and re-used in new constructions.
SuperCalco® acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. This process gradually increases its strength over time, and improves the carbon footprint of a building over its lifetime.