Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:04 pm
Good evening gentlemen. I hope someone may be able to give me some good advice.
The job has been down now for about four and a half years and is generally good, no loose or rocking stones etc,however the pointing is very inconsistent, rock solid in places and in others had began to break up after about 18 months and has got to the stage now where it is an eye-sore and something has to be done.The guy who did it cannot be traced unfortunately so that avenue is closed.
The man who I have chosen to do the pointing I believe has under-estimated the amount of work involved and I think is now rushing the job, yesterday he ground out the original mortar (all the good stuff had to go as well as the bad he tells me or else the colour won't match) and I notice that where he started he has chased it out deeper than where he finished at the end of the day, probably starting at around 20mm and in places barely scratching the surface. When I challenged him on this he assured me that he'd done this plenty of times before and it wouldn't be a problem. My feeling is that the deeper the mortar the stronger it will be and the more likely it is it last. Can anybody shed any light on this please?
Also some of the stone sets around the edge of the patio have come loose since he started but he tells me that they don't require re-bedding as the pointing will hold them in place, I doubt this as being on the edge of the area they only have pointing on 3 sides.
I would be grateful for any advice. Thanks.
The job has been down now for about four and a half years and is generally good, no loose or rocking stones etc,however the pointing is very inconsistent, rock solid in places and in others had began to break up after about 18 months and has got to the stage now where it is an eye-sore and something has to be done.The guy who did it cannot be traced unfortunately so that avenue is closed.
The man who I have chosen to do the pointing I believe has under-estimated the amount of work involved and I think is now rushing the job, yesterday he ground out the original mortar (all the good stuff had to go as well as the bad he tells me or else the colour won't match) and I notice that where he started he has chased it out deeper than where he finished at the end of the day, probably starting at around 20mm and in places barely scratching the surface. When I challenged him on this he assured me that he'd done this plenty of times before and it wouldn't be a problem. My feeling is that the deeper the mortar the stronger it will be and the more likely it is it last. Can anybody shed any light on this please?
Also some of the stone sets around the edge of the patio have come loose since he started but he tells me that they don't require re-bedding as the pointing will hold them in place, I doubt this as being on the edge of the area they only have pointing on 3 sides.
I would be grateful for any advice. Thanks.