DIYbanter - View Single Post - Can some building guru explain how the earth can move but cause no structural damage?

The Natural Philosopher

wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Largely I suspect the way blockwork developed, was that early man piled
up stones , then plugged the gaps with sand, then discovered the sand
washed out. But a bit of lime in the sand stopped it washing out.

Which is really all lime mortar is. Sand that doesn't wash away.;-)

yes, both mortar types are. The crush strength of sand is far
greater than that of lime or cement, those just hold the sand in
place so it takes the compressive forces.

Well if it used lime mortar, it certainly wouldn't have been held
together by that ;-)

FWIW lime mortared walls actually are more likely to survive
movement. Its one of the reasons SPAB et al advise its use in
buildings with little or no foundations.

However the tensile strength of cement approaches that of bricks..

And of you have ties in it..its even better,

NT