W H Lime Suppliers

22/06/2026

Designed for a Smooth Marble Finish

Our marble finish lime plaster has been carefully developed to give a smooth, creamy finish that's easy to apply and polish.

By going the extra mile and carefully sieving and grading our materials, we remove oversized particles that you can see In the video that can drag through the plaster and spoil the final finish. Combined with our unique mix design, this helps create a plaster that trowels on beautifully and finishes with ease.
If you've not tried our marble finish plaster yet then give it ago you won't be disappointed 👍

✅ Smooth application
✅ Excellent trowel feel
✅ Easy to finish and polish
✅ Consistent quality in every batch

📍 Unit 97, Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate, CT12 5GY

📞 Stephen: 07944 973338
📞 Simon: 07543 878310

🌐 www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk

11/06/2026

11/06/2026

One of the most common questions we get is:
"What colour should my lime mortar be?"
The answer is... there isn't one!
Traditional lime mortars took their colour from whatever sand was available locally.
A lime mortar made in Kent could look completely different to one made in Yorkshire, Cornwall or Scotland.
Before modern pigments were available, the sand determined the final colour:
🟡 Golden sands produced warm buff mortars ⚪ Pale sands produced light cream mortars 🟤 Iron-rich sands produced brown tones 🔴 Crushed brick and tile dust could add reds and pinks
This is why historic buildings often have so much character. The mortar wasn't chosen from a colour chart – it reflected the local landscape.
At WH Lime Suppliers we can produce coloured lime mortars using a range of sands and pigments, but the sand itself still plays a huge part in the final appearance.
👇 Post a photo of your favourite historic mortar colour and tell us where it's from.
Which do you prefer?
Traditional natural sand colours
Modern coloured lime mortars

10/06/2026

Big shout out again for Kingdom Transport Couriers 👍 another nice early drop off on this load 1st thing this morning, with no waiting around the boys can get straight on without any delay 👍 if you would like a local delivery we offer reliable at competitive rates and if you need it 1st thing in the morning drop or next day we will do our best to make that happen

07/06/2026

Another large order of our pre-mixed coloured lime mortar heading out next week – this time in our popular Plum colour for a brick slip project.

Why do we always recommend lime mortar for brick slip systems?

Unlike cement mortars, lime mortar remains slightly flexible and breathable. Brick slips are thin and often fixed to backing boards or insulated systems that can experience small amounts of movement. A hard cement mortar can struggle to accommodate this movement, leading to cracking, debonding and failed joints over time.

Lime mortar works with the system rather than against it. It allows moisture to escape, reduces the risk of trapped water behind the slips and is far less likely to cause damage to the brick slips themselves.

✅ More flexible than cement
✅ Breathable and moisture permeable
✅ Helps reduce cracking and debonding
✅ Better long-term durability
✅ Traditional appearance with natural colour options
✅ Easier to maintain and repair

Our pre-mixed coloured mortars can be produced using either hydrated lime or hydraulic lime, allowing us to tailor the mix to suit the specific requirements of your project.

We've had lots of new followers recently, so we'd love to hear from you...

Which mortar colour from the picture is your favourite?

Comment below with your favourite colour and let us know what project you're working on. 👇

WH Lime Suppliers Ltd
Unit 97, Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate, CT12 5GY
07543 878310 | 07944 973338
www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk

06/06/2026

Lime and Cement Start From the Same Place... So What's the Difference?

Many people are surprised to learn that both lime and cement begin with limestone.

The process starts by quarrying limestone and heating it in a kiln.

🔥 Around 900°C produces quicklime.

When water is added, the quicklime can be turned into lime putty or hydrated lime. Over time, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and gradually turns back into limestone through a process called carbonation.

This creates a breathable, flexible mortar that has been used for thousands of years.

Modern cement takes things a step further.

🔥 The limestone is heated to much higher temperatures (around 1450°C) and mixed with materials such as clay and shale. This produces clinker, which is then ground into cement powder.

The result is a mortar that sets faster and becomes much harder and less breathable than traditional lime.

So while lime and cement both originate from limestone, the manufacturing process creates two very different materials.

✔ Lime – breathable, flexible and sacrificial.
✔ Cement – hard, dense and rigid.

That's why lime is often the preferred choice for historic and traditional buildings, where managing moisture and movement is critical.

In a way, cement is simply limestone that's been processed further and fired much hotter – but that extra heat changes its behaviour completely.

02/06/2026

CARBONATION...
Did you know lime mortar slowly turns back into stone?
When lime mortar is applied, it reacts with carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air in a process called carbonation.
As carbonation takes place, tiny crystals of calcium carbonate begin to form throughout the mortar. These microscopic crystals grow and interlock between the sand particles, gradually binding the mortar together and increasing its strength.
This crystal growth is one reason lime mortar gains strength slowly over time rather than setting hard all at once like cement.
The result is a breathable, flexible mortar that has helped buildings survive for hundreds of years.
Nature's recycling system:
Stone ➡ Lime ➡ Mortar ➡ Stone again.
WH Lime Suppliers Ltd
Unit 97, Maple Leaf Business Park
Manston, Ramsgate, CT12 5GY
www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk
07543878310 07944973338

31/05/2026

Why Mortar Should Sacrifice Itself, Not Your Bricks!

This wall was repointed some years ago using a sand and cement mortar, and the results can now be seen.

Traditionally, mortar was designed to be the sacrificial element of a wall. The mortar should weather and wear away over time, allowing it to be replaced when needed, while the bricks themselves remain protected and last for generations.

When a hard cement mortar is used with softer bricks, the opposite can happen. Instead of the mortar taking the weathering, the bricks can begin to suffer. Moisture can become trapped, movement cannot be accommodated as easily, and over time the brick faces may start to crack, spall, and deteriorate.

A well-designed lime mortar is softer and more breathable than the surrounding masonry, allowing moisture to escape and ensuring that future repairs involve replacing mortar rather than replacing historic bricks.

The bricks were meant to outlive the mortar — not the other way around.

For traditional lime mortars, limewash, and heritage building materials, visit www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk
Unit 97 maple leaf business park manston Ramsgate ct12 5gy

29/05/2026

Why We Use Rust Oxide Pigments In Our Mortars

At WH Lime Suppliers we use high quality oxide pigments to colour our lime mortars and renders — and for good reason.

Many traditional oxide pigments are made from naturally occurring iron oxides — essentially forms of natural rust found in the earth. These mineral pigments have been used for centuries in buildings, paints and plasters because of their durability and natural appearance.

Different metals and minerals create different colours:

🟤 Iron Oxide → Reds, browns, yellows, oranges
⚫ Manganese Oxide → Browns, dark browns, blacks
🟢 Chromium Oxide → Greens
🔵 Cobalt Compounds → Blues
⚪ Titanium Minerals → Whites

“Nature already created the perfect earthy pigment palette — we just refine it for mortar and render.”

✅ UV Stable Colours
Unlike some cheaper dyes, oxide pigments are highly resistant to fading from sunlight, helping your mortar keep its colour for years.

✅ Natural Earthy Tones
Oxide pigments give traditional, natural looking colours that suit heritage, restoration and modern projects alike.

✅ Consistent Colouring
When mixed correctly, oxide pigments provide reliable and even colour throughout the mortar.

✅ Lime Compatible
Iron oxide pigments work very well with lime-based products and do not interfere with carbonation when used at the correct percentages.

✅ Long Lasting
These pigments are mineral based, durable and weather resistant, making them ideal for external pointing and rendering.

We can also help match or create custom colours for your project.

www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk
Unit 97, Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate, CT12 5GY
📞 07944 973338 / 07543 878310

28/05/2026

Big well done to the guys from Bay Brick Repointing & Restoration Specialists for this excellent lime mortar re pointing job in Herne bay 👌 if anyone needs re pointing work done give these guys a try 👍 materials supplied by us www.whlimesuppliers.co.uk and used with precision to give this superior finish.