Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

On 2 May, 10:29, Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

A house near me was recently extended and you can see that yellow
expanding foam has been used in place of the traditional mortar along
the gable end tiles and the ridge tile. I can't see if it has been
used to fix the whole ridge, but can't see why not.
But I wouldn't say the foam is easier to work with, but you don't have
to mix it first !
HTH, Simon.

Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

It is hardly hard to use mortar.

Forget trowels, and use your hands. Yup they get screwed, but skin regrows.

Brush of excess when half set (about 3 hours in summer, a day or so in
winter).

Use wire brush gently to clean any mess, and brick acid and water to
wash of any cement mess you leave.

On 2 May, 10:56, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

It is hardly hard to use mortar.

Forget trowels, and use your hands. Yup they get screwed, but skin regrows.

not an option, without gloves for me. I have psoriasis :-(


Brush of excess when half set (about 3 hours in summer, a day or so in
winter).

Use wire brush gently to clean any mess, and brick acid and water to
wash of any cement mess you leave.

On 2 May, 10:53, sm_jamieson wrote:
On 2 May, 10:29, Jethro wrote:

Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

A house near me was recently extended and you can see that yellow
expanding foam has been used in place of the traditional mortar along
the gable end tiles and the ridge tile. I can't see if it has been
used to fix the whole ridge, but can't see why not.
But I wouldn't say the foam is easier to work with, but you don't have
to mix it first !
HTH, Simon.

If that's an "approved" approach, I may try it. I'm not a bodge-
merchant, but am aware sometimes that doing things "because it's
always been done like that" isn't always the best approach.

Classic example was laying paving slabs with the Father in Law. He
insisted on 5 dabs of cement, but reading Comacs site, and speaking to
younger builders convinced me it wasn't the best way.

"Jethro" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 2 May, 10:56, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Did mine maybe 10 years ago now, just be liberal with PVA on both tiles and
in cement and you end up with something that sticks like sh*t.

On 2 May, 11:58, "Ian_m" wrote:
"Jethro" wrote in message

ups.com... On 2 May, 10:56, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Did mine maybe 10 years ago now, just be liberal with PVA on both tiles and
in cement and you end up with something that sticks like sh*t.

just raw PVA - no diluting it ?

Ian_m wrote:
"Jethro" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 2 May, 10:56, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Did mine maybe 10 years ago now, just be liberal with PVA on both tiles
and in cement and you end up with something that sticks like sh*t.

That's what I'd do as well

On May 2, 10:53 am, sm_jamieson wrote:
On 2 May, 10:29, Jethro wrote:

Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Thanks in advance

A house near me was recently extended and you can see that yellow
expanding foam has been used in place of the traditional mortar along
the gable end tiles and the ridge tile. I can't see if it has been
used to fix the whole ridge, but can't see why not.

It has to be painted. It's nor weather or UV proof or something.

MBQ

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher writes:
It is hardly hard to use mortar.

Forget trowels, and use your hands. Yup they get screwed, but skin regrows.

Many people get skin reactions to various of the chemicals in
cement. At least use a barrier cream (£1 from the chemist),
and preferably gloves, unless you know you can handle mortar
without any issues. Skin conditions are much quicker to pick
up than to get rid of.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 2 May, 21:17, (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

Many people get skin reactions to various of the chemicals in
cement. At least use a barrier cream (£1 from the chemist),
and preferably gloves, unless you know you can handle mortar
without any issues. Skin conditions are much quicker to pick
up than to get rid of.

I find rubbing vinegar on afterwards helps.


NT

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 2 May, 21:17, (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

Many people get skin reactions to various of the chemicals in
cement. At least use a barrier cream (£1 from the chemist),
and preferably gloves, unless you know you can handle mortar
without any issues. Skin conditions are much quicker to pick
up than to get rid of.

I find rubbing vinegar on afterwards helps.


Isn't that what brickies used to do to harden your skin??

"Jethro" wrote in message
oups.com...
On 2 May, 11:58, "Ian_m" wrote:
"Jethro" wrote in message

ups.com... On 2 May,
10:56, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Jethro wrote:
Hi all,

I'm resigning myself to having to fix the ridge tiles myself ... is
mortar the only thing to use, or is there any alternative which is
easier to work with (I'm brilliant with electrics, good with
plumbing,
OK with wood, but brickwork is my bete noir - I'm more hopeless than
you'd believe)

Did mine maybe 10 years ago now, just be liberal with PVA on both tiles
and
in cement and you end up with something that sticks like sh*t.

just raw PVA - no diluting it ?
No diluted in ratio of what ever it says on the tin for bonding cement.