Masonry: Jeffrey Price

Mortar Specialists, Masonry Preservationists, Restoration Specialists

Business Name: Virginia Lime Works
111 Highview Drive
Madison Heights, VA 24572
Phone: 434-929-8113
Fax: 434-929-8114
Email: jeff@virginialimeworks.com

Jimmy Price, the founder and principal of Virginia Lime Works

Since its beginning, Virginia Lime Works has focused on providing the best products possible for the restoration of historic masonry. It does this by specializing in the preparation and use of traditional lime mortar for use in historic structures. The company was founded by Jimmy Price, who is a vocal proponent of education for tradespersons, his goal being to raise the awareness and knowledge of our built environment. Over time, Jimmy has received numerous historic preservation awards and continues to be committed to the study and teaching of the preparation and use of historic masonry.

From the company’s first days of pitching wood into its wood-fired lime kiln to the present day, members of this family-owned business have never strayed from their mission of making masonry preservation, simple, sustainable, and "user friendly." So, whether you are looking for traditional wood-fired lime putty or a custom colored ready-to use mortar, or are planning to restore a historic structure, Virginia Lime Works has both products and advice that will help you do it properly.

Old House Authority recently conducted the following interview with Jeffrey Price, Jimmy's son, who is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the company.

Your business is obviously highly specialized, with a major emphasis on the importance of mortar regarding repair of brick surfaces. Would you explain that?

"First off, if you have a brick house or masonry wall to maintain, you'll need to know a few things in order to properly restore it and keep it in tip-top shape. We’ve all seen masonry repairs that detract from the integrity of the house, but a few simple things will keep it from happening to yours."

For example, some houses look completely different after the bricks are re-pointed. The mortar is a different color and the mortar joints are larger than they were originally. The beautiful patina of the aged bricks is gone. In order to keep this from happening, it’s very important that the replacement mortar is compatible with the historic mortar. Incompatible mortars can cause irreversible damage to historic brickwork, including deterioration of the brick, cracking, and interior mortar rot. The same problems can occur when an incompatible stucco or paint is applied to historic buildings. Traditional mortars such as lime mortar allow historic masonry to breathe and move. This gives new life to historic masonry. The work might look unattractive, but as long as you’re using good materials, you’re not causing additional problems. Then again, you can have attractive work done with bad materials, which will cause problems. Of course, in a lot of situations you have a combination of incompatible materials with unsightly craftsmanship. That’s bad news all around.

"Also, it's really important to match historic mortars. To do this properly, you ought to match the color of the interior of the mortar sample. This way, you match a surface that hasn’t been exposed to the elements and other environmental changes. This may mean that for a while the mortar looks slightly different, but over time the color will 'catch up' with the existing mortar. If the new mortar is matched to a 'dirty' color and the building is ever cleaned, the old mortar may look pristine but the new mortar will still look dingy."

How did your company get started?

"Virginia Lime Works was born from Price Masonry Contractors, Inc., which was a traditional masonry company. In time we expanded to the business we are today. Not only is our staff accomplished in the art of lime burning and product manufacture, but also in the actual hands-on craftsmanship that goes into building and building restoration. This coupling of craftsmanship and technical support allows us to offer our customers unparalleled practical advice."

How did you get to that point of expertise?

"After we had been in business for a while we realized that although we were making wonderful products, we still had a lot to learn. We then traveled throughout the United States and Europe to try to expand our knowledge base in the fields of historic preservation and ecologically friendly construction. In these travels we met and befriended countless craftsmen, architects, engineers, scientists and building professionals. We can pull on this international team of specialists to aid in any questions that we or our customers might have."

How did your company come to specialize in lime production since there are so many other modern building materials on the market?

"Lime is one of the most ecologically friendly masonry materials in the world. It's been used in constructing sustainable buildings for over 6,000 years. It's a vapor permeable material, which means that it allows moisture to pass through the walls, allowing them to breathe. When the breathability of walls is compromised, such issues as mold, mildew, and 'unhealthy building syndrome,' can become prevalent. Lime also absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Much of the carbon dioxide that’s released during the production of lime is reabsorbed during the carbonation of lime mortars. This is compared to minimal CO2 absorption in other masonry binders. Also, the amount of energy used in lime production is close to seventy-five percent less than that of cement production. Old lime mortar can also be recycled to be used as fertilizer, and to adjust pH levels in water, as well as a variety of other healthy and green uses."

You mentioned earlier that your company is committed to the re-use of existing buildings. What to you mean by that?

"One of the most ecologically friendly options in building is to use the structures that we already have. By restoring and using a structure that was previously built, the amount of energy and materials needed to fix what is existing is markedly less than that of constructing a whole new structure. The adaptive re-use of buildings is often a community friendly and ecologically friendly manner of construction."

You mentioned what you called your "open door policy." Could you explain what you mean by that?"

"Sure. What we mean is whether you are in our immediate area or calling on the phone, we will do all we can to ensure the success of your historic project, from chimney repointing to State Capitol restorations. Our entire office is a live example of traditional masonry in modern construction. If you have questions regarding mixes and repointing, we'll grab some tools and mortar and walk you through it in one of our 'working bays.' Just give us a call to schedule a time to come in."

Does your company have a business philosophy?

"Yes, we do. At Virginia Lime Works we believe that we should leave the world a better place than when we found it. Whether you want to restore a historic structure, construct an ecologically-friendly building, or have the healthiest home for your family, Virginia Lime Works is committed to providing the widest, most comprehensive range of masonry materials for you. Our company looks beyond the norm to develop products that make a real difference."