Page 2 of 2
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:01 pm
by ibuild.phil
definitely no cutting out with a saw needed as the customer is saying it is literally turning to sand. I have not gone back to look at the job as I want to stand corrected first and make sure I have applied the mortar correctly. I researched the application first and it recommends the dry mix method if using a coloured mortar as it reduces the risk of staining, which I know the customer would have been on the phone if any staining had taken place. I thought I was covering my backside. This site also stated that this method is not expected to last more than 2 years, is not the best method for pointing but is the best method for coloured mortar. I believe the bad winter we had has killed the mortar.
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:11 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
i have taped joints before ,but its a long slow process ,was using lime mortar. you , yourself can only decide what route you can take with the customer .only a suggestion , try and get him to meet you halfway , earn some cash (this climate that is easier said than done) . agree to go back over next few months once you have a few quid to cover it from other work and dont point when it is baking hot , ifit is hot keep damping paving down with a fine mist so mortar doesnt go off to quick or bite the bullet and do it
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:16 pm
by ibuild.phil
Ok well thanks for your replies. I am not going to bite the bullet on this 1 as I feel I had done more than enough for the customer in the first place. I was just trying to get opinions off others in the trade. I would not deliberately con a customer but at the same time I am not prepared to spend any more hard earned money putting right what I believe was right in the first place, hence why I think it is weather related damage out of my control.
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:20 pm
by ilovesettsonmondays
i agree with you ,your customer got alot more extra work done .let me know how you get on gl . im off to euston to catch a train oop north for the weekend , back to the land of decent chips , 2 pound a pint .might even sink a couple of aussie whites.
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:26 pm
by ibuild.phil
£1.70 a pint in the pub near me. shame I dont drink any more. The customer said he was getting 2 other builders in to view and quote on repairs. I am tempted to tell him to sling it and I will never do work for him ever again. But I will let you know in the coming weeks what the outcome will be. No point trying to sue me is it for a few hundred quid. I cant even claim on my liability insurance as the excess is £500.
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:27 pm
by lutonlagerlout
phil the way you pointed is wrong mate
the pointing has to be wet enough to "go off" but not too wet
easipoint or instarmac do some very reasonable gun point mortars which although they cost more to start reap dividends in speed and uniform appearance
enjoy your weekend chris in la-la land
the customer sounds like a right pain and the extras should have been sorted
but the pointing is wrong
cheers LLL
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:23 pm
by London Stone Paving
I am sure that everybody will have the same experience of customers asking you to do lots of extra bits and pieces once you are on site. We never used to mind doing the odd bit but it sounds to me like you went way beyond the call of duty on that job Phil.
We used to spend a lot of time on the writing of the quote detailing all the work we had quoted to do. That way if the customer asks for any extras, you can politely point out (no pun intended 
)that they are not included in the original quote and would have to be charged out. Its well worth taking the extra time, saves a lot of hassle on site.
I'd bite the bullet and re-point the job. Your reputations worth loads more than a couple of days pointing and the thing about someone giving you bad publicity is you never get the opportunity to put your side of the story across
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:44 pm
by mickavalon
Have you thought of not using mortar again and using one of the alternatives, try and get the customer to pay for the materials and you provide the labour. Some of the alternative pointing solutions do a Buff/Yellow colour, and their a lot less prone to weather excesses than mortar. There is plenty of info on the site and most work out alot quicker than Mortar Pointing anyway, so you can save yourself time and money, and sell it that it's a new product that you've researched and will perform better.