Not sure if everyone wants to learn along with us but… it is our blog. =) What we have learned is that whenever cement is used in a mortar mix, it makes it impossible to carry water away from the stone. If cement mortar is used over lime mortar (which was used exclusively when the Mooreland House was built) it traps the water and the lime dissolves out of the mortar leaving only sand that washes away. The old school techniques have come back into vogue and it is just at the right time. We are going to be able to use all the “new found” old techniques and make Mooreland House Great Again!
Pigmented “cement/lime mortar” over the original mortar 
Close up of dissolved mortar under “cement/lime” 
Regular mortar from Lowes. Empty behind it. 
Another cement mortar. Only the veneer left.
Mooreland House 
Fantastic news! I know nothing about mortar other than it keeps bricks and stone in place. I’m glad that you are taking the time to become experts so that Moreland House might see the next century!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is going to take longer but it will be as good as new!
LikeLike
I love that you care so much about the details and doing it the right way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We truly want it to last another century. We were very close to doing it the wrong way and it would have been very detrimental to the poor house. It is going to take forever but we are going to know it is done right.
LikeLike
I’m ready to become a Miss Mooreland house student and learn right along with you guys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are in luck… =)
LikeLike
Does Kentucky have a historic landmarks foundation? I used lime mortar in the sandstone house I restored & they gave me the recipe plus lots of other great info. That was 30 years ago & it has held up very well. Mixed it all in wheelbarrows but the house was tiny compared to yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure about the landmarks foundation. We will have to look into that. Thanks!
LikeLike
Frank & Kerry, I wanted to let you know about the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum on St. James Court in Louisville. The similarities are striking between this house and Mooreland House. The architect was Louisville architect Arthur Loomis of the firm Clarke & Loomis. They have an excellent website with a lot of period photos which I hope will be beneficial to y’all when the time comes to furnish your house. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! We will have to go check it out.
LikeLike
I meant to tell you in my earlier post that there is a very good possibility that the same architect built both houses.
LikeLiked by 1 person