Black limestone hearth - cracked joints & lifted flags.

JustAnotherSaver

I've actually found them.

Maybe this helps more to show what the flags were bedded on since these photos are more close up than the other one...

cyclonebri1

Ok look at what the flags are bedded on and give a description, maybe he left the old boots in there?

cyclonebri1

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Maybe you should check? There is no "mystery post". It's not hidden. I even gave you the time.

But anyway...



To be honest, i didn't realise people gave advice to rack up a thanks count.
I know i'm not the most helpful of people on this forum because i don't have the knowledge to do that. If i can help then i do.
Regardless, if i was THE most helpful person on the forum, i personally wouldn't care if someone hit a like button or not just so some numbers increased under my name. If they simply said thanks in their response post then that would do for me. I thought, wrongly i guess, others would be the same?

When people are giving me advice, i don't look at the numbers under their name. Hmm, only 1000 likes, maybe this guy isn't helpful enough.

I check to see if they come in being pleasant & looking like they want to help.
Or if they seem to want to come in to ridicule first because your knowledge is inferior to theirs.

Let's face it, i'm sure we can agree that there's both sets of people on this forum.

But anyway, you asked to be shown where it was & there you go.

Next time i'll click the thanks button. However, if i think someone is coming in with needless attitude, then i wont click thanks. There's simply no need for it.

Yes i may not know as much as you & i may be going the long way about things, but look at any of my posts & at no point do i start with the attitude like some of these people. I may react with it but i don't start with it. If people want to come being pleasant then great. If people want to start with attitude then that must be how they want to be spoken to.

This is a money saving website & manners are free.

You've also altered the quotation on post#10 to what you imagine I wanted.

As for the edit, it's basically what you were saying. You wanted some thanks. I'm saying i gave you some. I didn't know you wanted a clicky thanks instead of a thanks-thanks.


Yes i understand all that but :wall::wall::wall:

The 4th photo in this thread. That is what he put the flags on. Where you see the flooboards stop, that isn't a big hole there. It's all brickwork that is built up from the base. It's solid flooring which i guess originally was tiled.
If the flag is 600mm wide then about 580mm at least i would say is bedded on to this. Only 20mm at the most i would guess, probably not even that, would be touching floorboards. Probably more like 10mm or less. The mortar is touching the edges of the floorboards, yes, but bedded ONTO the floorboards? I never said it was.


From reading your posts i think you think that gap there is a hole which you could jump down. It isn't. As such he has no access to the joists like i said earlier, unless he lifts the floorboards which he didn't as i said earlier.

You can see wood & a hi-viz jacket even rested on this area so that shows enough that it's not just a hole.

So again, he was physically unable to access the joists. The joists were not touched.

I'd show you a better photo of that base if i could find one. I had problems with my photos over Xmas & lost a few & i think that's one of them so the one i provided here was the best one i had.

Slow down and stop digging so fast, your 9:29 post is now 8;24????

Still not found the thanks button after 3 years??

Look for the last time folks don't try to "rack up thanks counts", your words not mine, but they do, (not I do), appreciate the nod, look up that word if you don't also get


Post#18 as was has been removed, maybe you said something offensive or what?
but I/we can't see it.

Furts

I have received a pm from OP and thank you for it. Perhaps other Forum contributors have also received one too.

The pm is lengthy and the gist is along the lines of ...why am I critical of OP, why am suggesting actions that no reasonable person would ever consider, why do I consider OP has been at fault and so on.

These are all valid observations and we live in a democratic society where we are all equal citizens. As such my comments and my approach may be wrong, but I do stand by them.

I believe OP was foolish to undertake the renovation/conversion work without seeking professional advice. I say this because I see somebody stumbling in the dark, and way outside their comfort zone.

If the DIY approach was to have a realistic chance of success thorough research should have been undertaken. In essence replicate what a professional would have achieved.

However, there appears to be no concept of a desk study, nor meeting technical guidance, nor considering good practice.

Drawings and/or a specification should then have been produced. This might only comprise a couple of pages.

This data would be given to the trades when they were to price the job. It would be agreed and modified if necessary, before the trades started work. It could be verbal/friendly to suit requirements.

Then following this stage the trades should have been vetted, inspected and paid when all was well.

Instead OP has used the internet to gain quick easy answers not knowing if these answers are correct. In essence, "I can become a competent builder based on a few quick posts on a forum". The internet has also been used to seek guidance but this time after mistakes have occurred.

I have ridiculed your comment about wanting a hearth like your mums. Equally your installer would not do the 20mm joints that you believe is fantastic on your mum's hearth.

Now to give a brutal truth. Stone is laid with tight joints. 3mm on dressed stone on buildings and on Minsterstone fireplaces. 2mm is achievable with care. (10mm is for brickwork and blockwork.) Hence asking your installer to increase the size was never going to happen - but you would have been justified in requesting them smaller! However you cannot demand this part way through the job if nothing has been agreed in advance. (This comes back to the specification/discussions before work started.)

What you like at your mums is technically wrong, but you cannot see this. This is a perfect example of your lack of knowledge leading you into problems, blind corners and red herrings.

JustAnotherSaver

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok look at what the flags are bedded on and give a description, maybe he left the old boots in there?

Solid ground
Tiled in parts
Broken tiles to the right
NOT floorboards
or boots
All built up on bricks
Oh & NOT 'loose rubble'

That's the best i can do i'm afraid. I never thought i'd have to detail what it was so i never paid any more mind to it other than that.

cyclonebri1

Furts wrote: »

I have received a pm from OP and thank you for it. Perhaps other Forum contributors have also received one too.

The pm is lengthy and the gist is along the lines of ...why am I critical of OP, why am suggesting actions that no reasonable person would ever consider, why do I consider OP has been at fault and so on.

These are all valid observations and we live in a democratic society where we are all equal citizens. As such my comments and my approach may be wrong, but I do stand by them.

I believe OP was foolish to undertake the renovation/conversion work without seeking professional advice. I say this because I see somebody stumbling in the dark, and way outside their comfort zone.

If the DIY approach was to have a realistic chance of success thorough research should have been undertaken. In essence replicate what a professional would have achieved.

However, there appears to be no concept of a desk study, nor meeting technical guidance, nor considering good practice.

Drawings and/or a specification should then have been produced. This might only comprise a couple of pages.

This data would be given to the trades when they were to price the job. It would be agreed and modified if necessary, before the trades started work. It could be verbal/friendly to suit requirements.

Then following this stage the trades should have been vetted, inspected and paid when all was well.

Instead OP has used the internet to gain quick easy answers not knowing if these answers are correct. In essence, "I can become a competent builder based on a few quick posts on a forum". The internet has also been used to seek guidance but this time after mistakes have occurred.

I have ridiculed your comment about wanting a hearth like your mums. Equally your installer would not do the 20mm joints that you believe is fantastic on your mum's hearth.

Now to give a brutal truth. Stone is laid with tight joints. 3mm on dressed stone on buildings and on Minsterstone fireplaces. 2mm is achievable with care. (10mm is for brickwork and blockwork.) Hence asking your installer to increase the size was never going to happen - but you would have been justified in requesting them smaller! However you cannot demand this part way through the job if nothing has been agreed in advance. (This comes back to the specification/discussions before work started.)

What you like at your mums is technically wrong, but you cannot see this. This is a perfect example of your lack of knowledge leading you into problems, blind corners and red herrings.

No post to me but after the degree of ignorance to me, specifically me, I wouldn't want one.

I think the Op is ignorant in life skills, not only in his home life/improvement efforts but also in his interaction with others here, this time I am really out of here. Goodbye

cyclonebri1

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Solid ground
Tiled in parts
Broken tiles to the right
NOT floorboards
or boots
All built up on bricks
Oh & NOT 'loose rubble'

That's the best i can do i'm afraid. I never thought i'd have to detail what it was so i never paid any more mind to it other than that.

But it's still failed, Quote "left side seems springy", What's in the void the brick surround creates?, (can't believe I'm still trying to help):mad:

It's also possible the brickwork isn't sat on anything supportive as there wasn't oversite concrete installed in older properties which given your damp issues indicates yours maybe.

JustAnotherSaver

Furts wrote: »

Then following this stage the trades should have been vetted, inspected and paid when all was well.

Instead OP has used the internet to gain quick easy answers not knowing if these answers are correct. In essence, "I can become a competent builder based on a few quick posts on a forum". The internet has also been used to seek guidance but this time after mistakes have occurred.

No offence here, but i believe you are painting an incorrect picture & also putting words in my mouth which i will comment on in the next quote.

I never really decided what should be done, aside from affordability.

I contacted numerous damp proofing 'specialists' in the area. I had an independent damp specialist out who advised on different approaches. One of which we ended up taking.

Of these quotes there was a huge range in price. One came in at £12k for a solid floor. We simply could NOT afford that, not in a million years. Never going to happen.

So we chose what appeared to be the best of the rest.

They carried their job out & as far as damp proofing goes, it has been a success. The problems that were there before are seemingly not there now.

I did what most people would've done .... i had a damp problem, i contacted damp proofing people, they came out & worked, damp problem dealt with.
I didn't get in various other people because these are the guys who are supposed to do this for a living.
And it worked. Their side of it anyway.

Ok the plastering was perhaps not the best quality, but the damp proofing has seemingly worked (so far, touch wood & all that).

You appear to be saying i trundled along on to the internet, said hey guys, i have this problem, what should i do.
Some intoxicated person in the early hours of Saturday morning (see, it's not good when people just create a story) said blah blah blah do this.
And i said ok then Bob. I'll do that. You're on the internet so you must know what you're talking about.

It was never like that at all & i feel that by implying it was is just an attempt to ridicule.

I have ridiculed your comment about wanting a hearth like your mums. Equally your installer would not do the 20mm joints that you believe is fantastic on your mum's hearth.

And on to the putting words in my mouth.

Where did i say it's fantastic? If you point that out then i'll hold my hands up & say you're totally right about everything you've said about me.
However if you can't point it out then you should really admit that you're constantly missing the point, putting words in my mouth & going too far with what you're saying & instead need to deal with the facts - the words you are actually seeing on your screen.

You only 'thought' i thought 20mm was fantastic, because i never said it was.

The reason behind me referencing that (if anyone had cared to ask) was because my mother had hers installed about 4 years ago (+/-) by a different guy & has had absolutely no trouble whatsoever in that time. Also bedded on solid ground.
Mine are half the thickness so there's a difference. I was merely pointing out differences & asking if it's possible to be a contributing factor to what's happened.

NOT saying one is 'fantastic'.

Hence asking your installer to increase the size was never going to happen

*Sigh*

Again, putting words in my mouth.

I never asked them to increase the size. You appear to be looking for something that isn't there.

I have to ask you directly ..... WHY?

What i DID do was speak with the installer, ASK about the thickness in comparison to what my mother had & WHY he would do it thinner.
Purely out of curiosity & gaining knowledge.
He then explained this & that was simply that.

So why are you saying i asked for him to increase it when that was never said?

What you like at your mums is technically wrong, but you cannot see this. This is a perfect example of your lack of knowledge leading you into problems, blind corners and red herrings.

It may 'be' wrong ........ but nothing's 'gone' wrong in those 4 years, so is there a problem? I'd say not.

Things don't always have to be by the letter of the law to work out.

Like i said to you, the internet said that the skim bead shadowing showing through my plaster would show through emulsion & the only way and i repeat ONLY way around this would be stain blocking.
I went ahead with emulsion for the reason i explained to you in PM & it never showed through.
Conclusion: The 'right' way isn't always the 'only' way and the internet isn't 'always' right.


But again....why are you putting words in my mouth? Forget what you think i'm trying to say or what you think i'm implying. Deal only with what i AM saying.

JustAnotherSaver

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I think the Op is ignorant in life skills, not only in his home life/improvement efforts but also in his interaction with others here, this time I am really out of here. Goodbye

Quite simply it's like this....

I have zero time for people with attitude and i mean ZERO time (yes i have replied but by that i should specify i mean zero tolerance)

Check back through any of my posts & you will see.

If you come to me & you are pleasant & helpful then you'll see there is no problem with my 'interaction with others here'. I am pleasant back & i am grateful & say as such.


However if you come to me with poor attitude for WHATEVER reason. I don't really care what the reason is as it doesn't matter because ANY reason is 100% needless, then i WILL respond back to you with similar attitude.

You may think i have a problem but there's others who think i don't ... because others are polite throughout & don't feel the need to lay off little comments here & there. Perhaps it says more about yourself than it does about me.

teddysmum

We have a slate fireplace, which gets quite warm on the section in front of the gas fire.


Did you light your fire shortly after fitting, when the plaster (?) was still wet, thus drying it out quickly and unevenly ?