Nanolime

This guidance is aimed at conservators and those specifying conservation treatments for historic stonework. It will also be of interest to conservation officers, and building owners and managers.

Although the past ten years have seen an increase in the use of nanolime as a stone consolidant, not much was known about its properties and performance, and there had been no long-term evaluation of its effect on deteriorated limestone in an external UK environment. Furthermore, there was no consistent guidance regarding application of nanolime. For these reasons, Historic England commissioned a programme of research at the University of Bath and site trials at various English cathedrals.

This information will aid practitioners and specifiers to make informed decisions about when and how to use nanolime. This document describes:

• the performance requirements and essential properties of consolidants in general
• the scientific theory underpinning the use of nanolime
• factors that might limit the effectiveness of nanolime
• the best ways to assess the suitability of stone for treatment with nanolime
• how to apply nanolime