• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

CALL NOW (757) 596-2298

Black Goose

Black Goose

Chimney Sweep | Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News, & Hampton

  • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • License and Insurance
  • Services
    • Chimney Sweep
    • Chimney Repairs
    • Chimney Relining
    • Chimney Caps
    • Chimney Swift
    • Top Pans/Chase Covers
    • Fireplace Rebuild
    • Gas Log Services
    • Gas Logs/Inserts Installation
    • Historic Restorations
    • Dryer Vent Maintenance
    • Animal Removal
  • Coupons
  • News
  • Contact
  • Careers

For Historical Masonry, Mortar Matters! Lime Mortar vs Portland Cement

 

August 8, 2022 by BlackGoose

When repairing or restoring an old historical building, it is important to use materials that will maintain the original appearance and integrity of the structure. Portland cement and lime mortar have both been used for centuries for this purpose, but which one is better? Let’s take a closer look at each material’s composition, masonry history, and uses to find out more!

Historical renovations come with a variety of challenges and considerations and should only be done by an expert. Most historical buildings feature masonry of some sort, from small fireplaces to entire exteriors of stonework. An integral part of that masonry is the mortar, which holds the bricks together. Over time mortar can weather and degrade, leading to gaps in construction that are vulnerable to erosion and damage. When it comes time to repair or replace the masonry, how can you ensure the building will remain strong while staying true to its original appearance? Portland cement and lime mortar are the two most common mortars available, but they will perform very differently and will affect both the appearance and the strength of your building. Read on to learn about each material and where its use is most appropriate.

Portland cement is a man-made material that was first developed in the early 1800s. It is made by heating a mixture of limestone and clay and adding in gypsum. This is then ground into a very fine, uniform powder that forms the basis of what we know as mortar. This material has many advantages, including a quick, even set time and high strength. It has the ability to set even when used underwater and its small particles allow it to fill tiny pores and gaps. This feature also means that the concrete product is less permeable to moisture, which is an important consideration in the durability and weather resistance of construction. Portland cement is the most commonly used cement in mortar today and currently makes up about 95% of cement production worldwide.

Strong, quick to set, widely produced, useful in many settings – this has to be the best all-around choice, right? Well, it depends. For most modern construction the answer is yes. However, there are other considerations when working on historical masonry. Many people think that super-strong, waterproof moisture means a stronger construction, but in fact the opposite is true.

In a brick masonry structure, the mortar is meant to take the bulk of the building stress and allow moisture to pass through it. This means that the bricks are less likely to crack or erode. If the mortar is waterproof, that will raise the moisture content within the bricks, causing weaknesses and erosion. And if the mortar is stronger than the bricks around it the stress of the building will be absorbed by the masonry units themselves rather than the mortar. If the mortar is the softer and more permeable part in a wall, that means that the bricks will not retain excess moisture and that the mortar will flake, crack, or erode instead of the bricks. It is vastly preferrable for the mortar to fail instead of the bricks. Mortar is much easier to replace and match, as long as the right materials are available.

So why is lime mortar the all-around better material for historical masonry? For one, that flexibility and stress absorption is necessary in older structures that were not built with vertical expansion joints. Vertical expansion joints are installed along vertical faces to allow the masonry to move and flex with changes in temperature or humidity, weather stress, and settlement. Lime mortar does this naturally due to its softer composition and ability to “self-heal” or reseal hairline cracks with its greater water solubility. If a section of lime mortar in a building is replaced by a harder and less permeable mortar, the brick surrounding it is much more likely to crack, flake, or spall leaving visible sections of damage on a building’s face.

Remember how Portland cement’s tiny particle size made it desirable due to its ability to fill tiny gas and bond well to other materials? The particle size in lime mortar is even smaller, allowing even better fill and a stronger bond to the masonry units. Lastly, using a lime mortar will enable you to match the color of the rest of the structure, which is vital to maintaining the historical integrity and authenticity of the building.

Ensuring that you use a compatible masonry material is not only important for the aesthetic of the building, but also in ensuring that your construction will remain strong and your brick undamaged. At Black Goose we have completed repairs on numerous historical buildings, including 18th, and 19th century structures statewide including the Wren Building (1695) at William and Mary. We can source period-accurate materials and salvage bricks in order to maintain a live artifact. Contact us today to discuss how we can repair or restore your historic masonry with authenticity and longevity.

Category iconNews

Primary Sidebar

Services

 

  • Chimney Sweep
  • Chimney Repairs
  • Chimney Relining
  • Chimney Caps
  • Chimney Swift
  • Top Pans/Chase Covers
  • Fireplace Install
  • Fireplace Rebuild
  • Gas Logs and Inserts
  • Historic Restorations
  • Dryer Vent Maintenance
  • Animal Removal

Helpful Hints

 

  • How To Hire a Chimney Sweep
  • Apples to Apples Comparison
  • Rave Reviews
  • How to Easily Start a Fire

Coupons

 

Be sure to check out our Coupon Specials! We have new offerings on a regular basis so be sure to check back often!

Stay In Touch

 

Receive money-saving coupons once a month and helpful tips about your chimney and dryer vent.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 Black Goose Chimney, Inc. · Privacy Policy · Website by Primm Advertising

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Google Rating
4.3
Based on 121 reviews
Black Goose Chimney
Black Goose Chimney
4.3
James Slack
Judy Turman
Very good service. Very knowledgable. Will use again if there is a need.
Louis Lee
Very courteous and knowledgeable.
Alisha Horton
Sergey and his partner were fast, efficient, and professional.
Holly Griffin
Mike and his associate were great!
Michael Murphy
I would highly recommend Black goose chimney I bought an old home that has two fireplaces black goose was recommended to me from my builder and they did not disappoint. They gave me a fair price did not try to oversell me was very competent. Bobby was fantastic.
Donna Fish
Black Goose Chimney Sweep, under the leadership of Sergey Gardner, did our chimney sweep/inspection and dryer cleanup with the utmost professionalism and expertise! Sergey and his team were incredibly knowledgeable, and we look forward to working with them again in the future! Thanks so much!!
kathy newcomb
Professional, courteous and honest. Highly recommend and will call them for future service.
Michael Stanton
Customer-oriented and technically proficient company. Highly recommended.
K E Conner
The guys from Black Goose were professional and friendly. Checked out what we needed and answered our questions. Really appreciate their time and expertise. Thanks.
Eugene Schied
Sergey was fantastic. He explained everything about our fireplaces very clearly. He made recommendations for what needed to be replaced and repaired. He took great care to keep everything plan and put back in place.
Rosa Rainey
The young lady on the phone Elizabeth was so sweet and helpful. She helped me make my payment over the phone with no problem! It’s such a joy to still have good customer service around. I haven’t heard that hospitality since the 70s! Mike and Brandon were a delight to have! Thank you Black Goose!
Terry Moore
Great service. Fixed problem and thoroughly cleaned fireplace. Also made us aware of a potential problem in future and provided quote. We’ve used a couple different gas fireplace repair services in the past with less than satisfactory results, but Black Goose Chimney is the best by far. Thank you!
Chris Gibson
Very detail oriented and professional. Experience shows in the care they take to insure the client is happy.
Tim Fary
On time. Didn't try to upset or sell unnecessary service..explained exactly what the problem was and how he repaired it..The are on my first call listSergio was my tech and that's who I will request.
jason scribe
Outstanding professional work with a friendly efficient touch! I would enthusiastically recommend Black Goose hands down…
Leslie Stacks
We had a great first maintenance session with Black Goose Chimney for our gas log fireplace. Scheduling was easy, and on the morning of the maintenance, we were given a courtesy call to update us on the arrival time. Once at our house, the two workers were careful and respectful of our home and proceeded to inspect our fireplace and gas logs. They asked good questions and provided helpful information about our equipment, the safest and best way to use it, and possible improvements. Black Goose Chimney is now on our list of trusted professionals.
Andrew Nelson
Expert and prompt service. I am very happy with the installation and routine maintenance a year later.
Louise Moore
Extremely happy with the cleaning and door repairs John and his helper completed on their service call. I can’t wait for the first cool day to enjoy my fireplace. Both gentlemen were respectful in keeping area clean especially with fireplace soot . They went up on the roof to check for any defects. I will feel safe using my fireplace this fall and winter. I have a dog who is nosey so I had him contained but they made sure i knew when they had to open my backyard gate. I highly recommend Black Goose for anyone need fireplace concerns. They installed my first fireplace insert years ago and it is still working warmly with yearly inspections.
Rob Smith
Mike and Chris from Black Goose Chimney Sweep did an excellent job. I have used Black Goose for a few years now and have always had an excellent experience. They do not try to add on expenses saying well you need this or this has to be done now if it really isn't necessary for the safe operation of your fireplace and dryer. If anyone ever asks me who i recommend for fireplace and/or dryer vent needs i tell them Black Goose
Derek Shaffer
Laz Schaffer
Bobby was personal, professional, experienced & remediated my issues…currently waiting for parts to complete the job
Michael Brown
Great to work with. Mike and Brandon were very knowledgeable and helpful. Hope to have them back to do the remainder of work.
Jerri Michael
Black Goose has a great team from the phones to the inspection teams that do a great job inspection of chimneys and I have them do my dryer too. They provide the required reports I need for my HOA. They pricing is reasonable.
C.R. Brew
Nathaniel
They did a great job all except for Cris so on top of the fire box, I guess the trainee forgot to look up their this is what I pulled down
Milton Foster
Betty Downs
wonderful
Steven DeFonzo
I’ve been a customer for many years now and John and his team are always professional. They do a great job!
Diana Burris
John Wandling
Expert work reasonable price. Definitely recommend.
Brian Canfield
Lyles Forbes
Lori Bean
I would recommend Black Goose Chimney! Great customer service and work was completed from start to finish in a timely matter. I was kept informed every step of the way! I would definitely use this company again in the future!Thank you!Lori Bean
Sherri Schenkelberg
Mike and Chris came to do an inspection and sweep for us, and both were so friendly and professional. They did the cleaning from the inside with a vacuum, and did a great job of keeping everything clean. Great experience.
Jim Livengood
Heldur Liivak
Sergey Gardner, the owner of Black Goose Chimney, recently arranged followup work on a chimney cap job that was done over 2 years ago. No issues and no arguments "We will make it right."Super customer support and in this day and age not always the norm. I have used the company since the early 2000'a and will continue to do so as my first choice.
Betsy Rawles
i couldn't be more pleased with the service that I received from Black Goose Chimney. Experienced workmanship. Great communicators. Honest. Always on time for appointments. Can't say enough good things about this company and the people that I dealt with.
Jay Colley
Great efficient job by Bobby and his team. Very knowledgeable!
Miriam Harris
We had an outstanding experience with Black Goose. Glad, Arthur, and Sergey assessed the inoperable condition of our old, plain fireplace that was damaged by wildlife, and replaced it with a beautiful fireplace that we designed to our tastes. Price was fair, and the craftsmanship in the install was outstanding. We highly recommend the Black Goose team. Thanks so much from Pat and Miriam.
carolyn walker
Very honest. Very pleasant to work with. Even helped me get a fawn out of my yard at no charge. Letting me know exactly what I needed replaced and gave me an estimate
Xanthe Calzadilla
We hade Black Goose Chimney replace our old gas fireplace with an electric one back in early September '24. They were very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Sergey and company finished the job in a timely manner, it's works great and looks fantastic.Move forward to April '25 and without going into great detail, the remote was lost. I reached out and with the help of Karen and Juanita, they were able to reach out and get us a replacement. I would definitely recommend them them, over and over.
denise chamblee
Incredible service. From the person answering the phone and scheduling an appointment to the service itself. Mike Wardley and Chris called prior to their arrival, were extremely professional, got the job done even though it was just supposed to be an evaluation. They went above and beyond to schedule an additional service. They were nice and clean and efficient. I can't say enough good things about my experience with the company and these 2 men.
CT Arrington
Absolutely horrible customer service. We called them to remove a dead bird from our dryer vent pipe. The tech claimed that they could not do any work because the external vent is too close to a power line. Refused to even try to fix the problem from inside our home. Another company came out and fixed the issue from inside our home!Worst part is they pressured our daughter into paying the full $159 service call fee then lied about the owner’s availability to speak with us and lied again saying they would refund half our fee.
Nick Will
Bobby and Brandon did a great job today, punctual, professional, clean and very thorough. Even very willing to answer any questions I had about my chimney.
Sunshine Hardison
Bobby is great to work with. Fast response and high quality work.
Michael Levenson
I have an outside gas fire pit that needed help. Sergery came out and had it back to working great after 2 visits. I thanked him the first visit and he told me not to thank him until job was complete and I am satisfied. When completed he followed up to make sure I was satisfied since I was out of town when job completed.To me that says a lot to have pride in your work and to really want the follow up on satisfaction confirmation. That customer service and pride has been lost lately with a lot of companies and it is good to see it again. Thanks!
Jen Test
Customer service is extremely poor
Lydia Clark
My glass doors, outside of my fireplace, had gotten broken..Black Goose had to measure, and special order the doors.They replaced them and did an excellent job.
Steve Thompson
We called Black Goose Newport News to install an electric fireplace & shiplap in our family room. The space was previously used for an old fashion tv & stereo system built into the wall. They did an exceptional job filling in the space and making the room look modernized. Top quality workmanship!!!
See all reviewsWrite a review
powered by Google