Think lime re-pointing not done correctly by contractor - opinions needed please

stuart45

This is one I did last year in the hot sun and I kept it covered and damp for a couple of weeks. I'm back there now doing the back where it's shady and cooler and the covers were not so important, just keeping it misted.
Not sure he will be pointing today looking at the forecast.

Eldrax

Nice work stuart45. 
Thanks, yes it'll be the guttering he's finishing today as it'd be, er, pointless doing pointing today. Especially since most bits that need doing are near the ground/at ground level. 
I'll raise my concerns again with him about pointing, not being covered/misted
Also he didn't do pointing on top two courses under the eaves - said it's standard not to, but realise now this does not sound right at all. 

FreeBear

St Astier, one of the major suppliers of lime products, has this to say about pointing - http://www.stastier.co.uk/nhl/guides/ptgnhl.htm

"As regards external protection the work should be covered with hessian sheets, polythene or both. Polythene should never come in contact with the work. Accurate records of the minimum and maximum temperatures below the covers should be taken daily"

Recording temperature fluctuations is probably going over the top for most people... Admittedly, the last bit of lime work I did earlier in the year, I didn't cover it over. It was also quite warm and dry when doing the work. This time of year, I'd try to hang a sheet of plastic over the work just to keep the rain off. Wouldn't bother with hessian though.

stuart45

I did this as a sample of the colour for a customer last year on a really hot day. Didn't damp it down or cover it because I knew it was coming out again. When I did take it out the external 20mm was rock hard, but under that was dry and crumbly.