# Brick by Brick: The Truth About Traditional Homes > Heritage masonry specialist Jake Mitchell of Archer Brick & Stone joins Aaron Worrall to explain why lime mortar, not cement, is essential to protecting traditional brick and stone homes. *Source: https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/episodes/brick-by-brick* [Open in Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/00BRgzvorXlDuNTKiKzCSp)[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TxQB_OdBU)[Listen in any app](https://pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMTUxNGZmNDQvcG9kY2FzdC9yc3M/episode/MDBhN2Y3NDYtNzViMy00NzZmLTlhZWMtZjI4YTdiYjNhYTdh) ## The short version - Cement pointing is harder and less permeable than traditional brick and stone, so using it on an older building traps moisture inside the wall instead of letting it escape. - Trapped moisture caused by cement pointing is a leading cause of damaged brickwork and failing mortar joints in traditional properties. - Lime mortar — including hot lime, lime putty and NHL lime — is the traditional, breathable alternative to cement, and choosing the right type for the building is central to a repair actually working. - Owning a listed building or a property within a conservation area brings additional responsibilities when it comes to repair and maintenance work, beyond what a standard property requires. - Simple, regular maintenance — checking gutters, watching for cracks and managing climbing plants — helps protect brick and stonework long before more serious problems set in. - Breathable finishes, rather than modern sealants, are essential for letting moisture escape from traditional brick and stone walls as it was designed to. - Choosing a contractor who genuinely understands traditional buildings, rather than one who defaults to modern materials out of habit, is one of the most consequential decisions an owner of a heritage home can make. ## What this episode covers The mortar between your bricks is not something most homeowners ever think about, until it starts to fail. In episode two of The Healthy House Podcast, host Aaron Worrall talks to heritage masonry specialist Jake Mitchell of Archer Brick & Stone about why the materials used to repair a traditional building matter just as much as the skill of the person doing the work. Jake’s career took him from restoration work in Boston to working on traditional buildings across the UK, and that path shapes the way he talks about older homes: as structures that were built to work with moisture, not against it, and that get into trouble when they are repaired using modern assumptions. ## Why cement pointing is the wrong answer A central thread of the conversation is cement pointing — the modern, hard-wearing mortar that has become a default choice for repointing brickwork, and that Jake argues is often exactly the wrong material for an older building. Cement is harder and far less permeable than traditional brick and stone. Applied to a period property, it traps moisture inside the wall instead of letting it escape the way the building was designed to manage. That trapped moisture does not stay harmless. Jake talks through how it leads to damaged brickwork and failing mortar joints, turning what should have been routine maintenance into a much bigger and more expensive repair. It is a pattern he has seen repeatedly, and one that catches out well-meaning homeowners who assumed a harder, newer material must be a better one. ## Lime mortar, properly explained The alternative Jake champions is lime mortar, and he does not treat it as a single product. The episode covers hot lime, lime putty and NHL (natural hydraulic lime), and why the choice between them depends on the building in front of you. Getting this right is presented as the difference between a repair that lets a wall breathe as intended and one that quietly recreates the same moisture problems cement causes. ## Listed buildings and conservation areas For anyone who owns, or is considering buying, a listed building or a property within a conservation area, Jake sets out the additional responsibilities that come with that status. Repair and maintenance decisions on these properties are not purely practical ones — they carry obligations that go beyond what applies to a standard home, and understanding that before work starts can save an owner from a costly mistake. ## Practical protection for heritage homes Much of the value in this episode is genuinely practical. Jake talks through simple, low-cost steps that protect brick and stonework long before any serious repair is needed: checking gutters so water is not running down or pooling against a wall, watching for cracks as an early warning sign, and managing climbing plants so their roots and tendrils do not force mortar joints apart. He also makes the case for breathable finishes over modern sealants, and for choosing a contractor who understands traditional buildings rather than one who reaches for cement out of habit. ## Who should listen This episode is aimed at anyone who owns, or hopes to own, a Victorian, Edwardian or other older property, as well as buyers weighing up a period home and homeowners who have just been quoted for repointing work. If you have ever wondered whether a “quick fix” to your brickwork might cause more harm than good, this conversation gives you the grounding to ask better questions before any work begins. ## Questions this episode answers ### Why is cement pointing bad for old brickwork? Cement is harder and less permeable than the traditional brick and stone it is applied to, so when it is used to repoint an older building it traps moisture inside the wall instead of letting it escape. Jake Mitchell explains how this trapped moisture leads directly to damaged brickwork and failing mortar joints over time. ### What is the difference between hot lime, lime putty and NHL lime? Hot lime, lime putty and NHL (natural hydraulic lime) are the three lime mortar options Jake Mitchell discusses on the episode. Each is suited to different repair situations on traditional buildings, and choosing the correct one is presented as central to getting a repair right rather than simply picking whichever mortar is easiest to source. ### Do I need special permission to repoint a listed building? Owning a listed building or a property within a conservation area carries additional responsibilities when it comes to repair work like repointing, beyond what applies to a standard property. The episode covers what owners of these properties need to be aware of before starting any masonry work. ### How can I protect the brick and stonework on an older home? Jake Mitchell sets out practical, low-cost ways to protect brick and stonework: checking gutters so water is not running down or pooling against the wall, watching for cracks, and managing climbing plants so they do not damage mortar joints. He also recommends using breathable finishes rather than modern sealants. ### How do I find a contractor who understands traditional buildings? Choosing a contractor who understands traditional materials and methods, rather than one who will default to modern cement-based products out of habit, is highlighted as one of the most important decisions an owner of a heritage property can make. ### Who is Jake Mitchell? Jake Mitchell is a heritage masonry specialist at Archer Brick & Stone. His career included restoration work in Boston before he moved into working on traditional buildings across the UK, and he joins Aaron Worrall on Episode 2 to explain why material choice matters so much when repairing older properties. ## Go deeper [Heritage and Lime](https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/topics/heritage-and-lime)[Damp and Mould](https://www.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk/topics/damp-and-mould) ## Share this episode [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fbrick-by-brick)[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Brick%20by%20Brick%3A%20The%20Truth%20About%20Traditional%20Homes%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Healthy%20House%20Podcast%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fbrick-by-brick)[Email a link](mailto:?subject=Brick%20by%20Brick%3A%20The%20Truth%20About%20Traditional%20Homes%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Healthy%20House%20Podcast&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthyhousepodcast.co.uk%2Fepisodes%2Fbrick-by-brick) ### Follow the show - - - - - -