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Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:05 pm
by ehfer
Any stonemasons out there? A client wants me to erect some antique (excellent condition) balustrading and steps, but the joint tolerance is only 5mm. It seems a bit tight for standard mortar - should I try silver sand or kiln sand, or lime mortar? Or is there something else? The stone looks like Portland.

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:15 pm
by cookiewales
hi you would use a lime mortar and they should have dowels to fix them these days would be stainless steel and epoxy hope this helps have rebuilt a fair few :D

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:44 pm
by GB_Groundworks
we built a new balustrades but made from reconstituted stone, we ask cookie said dowled and epoxied them with stainless steel then used a white lime mortar to fill the joints

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:08 am
by Tony McC
James Ramsden from Stonecrete is a bit of a wizz at this sort of thing and he wrote a very helpful article which I published here

If his advice on joint mortar isn't quite what you need, if yuo give him a call or email, he'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:04 pm
by ehfer
Many thanks for your advice, cw, GBG and Tony McC.