The main application for limestone is as hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) for mortar or plaster preparation. On a smaller scale, lime is additionally used as a fertilizer, for wastewater treatment or as an additive in the food industry (for example as a neutralizing agent or acidity regulator). Ground natural limestone is often used as a filler, a white pigment or as a reagent in flue-gas desulfurization.

Hydrated lime is produced from limestone in a two-step procedure. Limestone is burnt to calcium oxide (quicklime) and in a second step water is added to create hydrated lime. Bauermeister mills can be used for grinding natural limestone as well as burnt lime to the desired particle size. Hydrated lime reacts with carbon dioxide to create calcium carbonate. This reaction (desired for mortar) rules out grinding of hydrated lime on a mill as it would take place inside the mill and lead to clogging. Due to this a necessary grinding step needs to be situated before the hydration step of lime.