Repointing side wall

stuart45

If it's only those bits it's not much of a problem. Those empty cross joints could be weep holes.

hangryconsumer

Yes it's only those bits. If the mortar isn't crumbling then no point raking out and re-doing. No point putting something over the top to fill the holes and stop the ants?

stuart45

You can fill in the cross joint if it's not a weep hole.

hangryconsumer

The structure has been in place since approx 2006 so I assume it's not a weep hole. Conservatory footings.

stuart45

You can probably fill it in then. You sometimes find them at the corners where the profiles were fixed.

danrv

FreeBear said:

Are you mixing it the same way and for the same length of time ?

If you are mixing a bucket at a time and mixing it by hand, that could be part of the problem. It is also difficult to guage the quantities exactly when mixing a small amount.

Using a method found online.

Add 3/4:of water
Add 1/2 the sand
Add all the lime
Mix 2 mins
Add all cement 
Add rest of sand 
Add remaining water
Mix 3-5 mins

Using a small yoghurt pot to measure amounts.
Mixing by hand in a bucket.
It's usually enough to do a row or two without drying out.
The pic shows the colour difference.
Exactly the same materials.

danrv

That MortarTone is definitely the stuff to use.
I’ve mixed up a small amount and it’s brought the colour back very close to the original.
On the right is the colour of the problem batch that was drying grey.
Just need to figure out how much to add to the 5/1/1 mix. 

FreeBear

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

Are you mixing it the same way and for the same length of time ?

If you are mixing a bucket at a time and mixing it by hand, that could be part of the problem. It is also difficult to guage the quantities exactly when mixing a small amount.

Using a method found online.

Add 3/4:of water
Add 1/2 the sand
Add all the lime
Mix 2 mins
Add all cement 
Add rest of sand 
Add remaining water
Mix 3-5 mins

Using a small yoghurt pot to measure amounts.
Mixing by hand in a bucket.
It's usually enough to do a row or two without drying out.

Bit late in responding (sorry)...

I usually mix all the dry ingredients together thoroughly before adding any water. A paddle mixer makes the task much easier depending on how much you are mixing at a time. There are different types available - The one I use for mortars is - https://www.toolstation.com/marshalltown-qlt-eggbeater-mixer/p24277 - The pressed steel spiral types are best kept for paints.

danrv

FreeBear said:

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

Are you mixing it the same way and for the same length of time ?

If you are mixing a bucket at a time and mixing it by hand, that could be part of the problem. It is also difficult to guage the quantities exactly when mixing a small amount.

Using a method found online.

Add 3/4:of water
Add 1/2 the sand
Add all the lime
Mix 2 mins
Add all cement 
Add rest of sand 
Add remaining water
Mix 3-5 mins

Using a small yoghurt pot to measure amounts.
Mixing by hand in a bucket.
It's usually enough to do a row or two without drying out.

Bit late in responding (sorry)...

I usually mix all the dry ingredients together thoroughly before adding any water. A paddle mixer makes the task much easier depending on how much you are mixing at a time. There are different types available - The one I use for mortars is - https://www.toolstation.com/marshalltown-qlt-eggbeater-mixer/p24277 - The pressed steel spiral types are best kept for paints.

Thanks. Good idea. 
I use a bit of architrave to mix at the moment and make up just enough for two of three rows so that it doesn’t dry out.