Advice on pointing please...

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

It's taken us ages to find a builder willing to do our pointing.
We need the whole gable end and back of the house done.It's a large early Victorian and some of the pointing is original so it all needs doing to look tidy.
My question is this the builder says he only needs to do patches of it even though I am willing to pay to have it all ground out and and re-done.
I'd rather do this since I won't be up the ladder and can't say what needs doing up above.Also the builder insists it's ok to do the pointing in this frosty weather which I'm sure is not.
Anyone able to offer any advice,thankyou.

david29dpo

Unless ALL the pointing is done, it will look patchy. If your builder wont do what you want, get one that will. I would wait till the weather is better as well.

thickbuilder

i would wait a few weeks untill you have it done
there are additives you can get for the mortar but why risk it if the frost gets to it you may need it doing again

dampdaveski

Hi MrsTittle,
In an ideal world it is better to do the full walls, points to note are that the existing mortar needs grinding out approx 25mm, the walls should then be washed down with a sweeping brush / bucket of water or better a hosepipe or a mini jet wash.
Carrying out pointing works outside using cement based products in cold weather is NOT advisable, you shouldn't carry out any pointing works if the temperature is going to go below 5 deg c.
also as it's an early victorian era house you should make sure the 'mix' your builder uses is lime based, i.e. 1:Cement, 1: hydrated lime, 4: sand. If nothing else you should discuss this with him. If he looks at you blankly when you talk about lime in the mix you might want to reconsider your choice.
Final point, these kind of works would usually need to be done from a proper scaffold and not form a ladder.
Hope this helps
DD

keystone

dampdaveski wrote: »

If he looks at you blankly when you talk about lime in the mix you might want to reconsider your choice.

A polite way of saying are his spurs jangling when he walks down the path?

Final point, these kind of works would usually need to be done from a proper scaffold and not form a ladder.

Support that 100% - especially on a gable end. Working At Height Regulations as amended 2007 would not be complied with otherwise. Might just get away with a platform but would expect scaffolding TBH and that will add significantly to cost.

Cheers