Sort of following on from Mick's post looking for experienced hands, I have a client in South London looking for someone with genuine experience in laying portuguese paving, specifically the tricksy little mosaic-like calcadas.
I knew a Portuguese Calceteiros years ago, but he must be dead or well knackered by now as he was in his early 70s back then and I've never seen anyone else doing this work over here since then. I believe that, even in Portugal, there are limited numbers of people who are genuinely skilled in the art, which is a real pity.
I found this Flickr site which might interest some of you.
They did summat similar in the centre of Warrington in the mid-90s, after we'd had the IRA in to re-model the town centre, and they called it the "River of Life" but they never quite got it right....
....anyway, if anyone knows of a suitable candidate working in or around that London, I'd be obliged if you'd let me know.
Look at how tight are the joints. That's where the skill comes in, constantly searching for the right calcada or trimming to suit and so minimise the jointing (which is usually splitt or a coarse sand with limestone dust)
Look at how tight are the joints. That's where the skill comes in, constantly searching for the right calcada or trimming to suit and so minimise the jointing (which is usually splitt or a coarse sand with limestone dust)
Got similar paving in Rio De Janeiro, the skill there is in keeping the paving level :laugh: When the heavy rain comes in every couple of weeks the paths flood and you can end up wading through 10" of water.
Watched the guys there laying it and they didn't really care, they just sat there nonchalantly bashing each bit with a hammer until it wouldn't go in any further.
Going to have a hard time finding someone, very hard manual work and going to be expensive to get someone who takes care doing it so you don't end up with valleys everywhere.
Copacabana beach:
Tony
I have an contact who runs a stone fixing company. He is Portuguese and employs about 40 Portuguese stone masons. Can you email me some info about the project and I will see if he knows anyone. If he does, I will pass it over to you
Steve
