Is this a fair quote for a porch build?

WIAWSNB

It has to be your call.

The existing lintel is terrific for its seeming fragility. You'll duck every time you go through that doorway in case your thick 'ead brings the house down. It's, wow. 😮

I personally wouldn't fit a phony one over it, but if you find a suitably genuinely rustic version of the existing, then I'd consider that - if you think the real one ain't up to the aesthetic task. But, I love the real one, 'cos it's real.

Exposed stone is fab, but I have to say I recoil at the contrived examples in your example pics - the patently phony 'crumbling' look of part-exposed. I squirm every time I see this, and there are a few examples around here, inside and out - hateful.

I'd personally either go for fully plastered as the guy is offering - ie, soft corners and bag-rubbing (yes, I had to look that up…) so the shapes of the stones are still fully visible, or go fully exposed stone, which will mean repointing using the correct, presumably lime, mortar. I think both will look good. In fact, GREAT.

Or, bag-rub the main room, but fully expose the stone in the wee bathroom - yummy. Bag-rubbing doesn't have to be white lime - there are lovely natural warm tones too. Just wonderful…

dllive

Yes, I know what you mean about the contrived nature of exposing bits of stone. Its very popular here in Devon. It does look very twee.

I googled 'bag-rubbing'. I see that style of finish all the time around here. In fact, I think I have some on the back of the house, albeit a very light bag-rubbing(!)

Once theyve removed all the old render/plaster, I will make a desicion at that point. I think the options are either bagging, all exposed stone, or full lime render. If they could do it to match the rear wall above then that would make sense.

Haha, indeed, it seems all the woodwork in this house is…. on the small side! One of the builders said the beams are like matchsticks, and he wondered how its supporting the floor above!

But the house has been standing for 150+ years, so will hopefully stay that way during my tenure.

FreeBear

Bag-rubbing doesn't have to be white lime - there are lovely natural warm tones too. Just wonderful…

The choice of lime will make a huge difference. I've had lime putty from three different sources.

Singleton Birch - Dries with a hint of creamy butter colour.

Ty Mawr - Has a definite grey huge to it.

Mike Wye - A brilliant white.

The final colour of any lime finish can be adjusted by adding a pigment. If using a dry pigment, it is worth slaking it first. That way, you should avoid any colour bombs. But I prefer to go with an acrylic artist paint such as Windsor Newton.

stuart45

Bag rubbing is popular because it's quick and easy. Traditionally bag rubbing was used as a quick method of forming a flush joint on brickwork, not to cover the face of the masonry completely. A typical example would be building a workshop in 9 inch English bond brickwork. The face work would be jointed up properly, but the back would always be a bit rough because of bricks being different lengths. A flush joint and then a coat of paint was normal, and the quickest method was to rub the joints with an old wall tie sack, or cement bag. Any holes in the joints could easily be filled with mortar on the sacking. It didn't really matter if some was smeared over the brickwork. In recent years it's become popular on stonework, only to use extra mortar and put a thin film of mortar all over the face of the wall. There is a similar method known as German smear, in which some of the mortar is removed.

It really all depends on what particular look you like. People have different tastes. You sometimes find that people prefer the look of work done by someone just about semi skilled, to that of a job done by a highly skilled craftsman.