Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys), ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

Thanks in advance,

Clive

On 02/06/2018 12:05, wrote:

Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys), ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.


I have always found scaffolding towers to be cumbersome, particularly if
you need to keep moving them. I would get a quote for (a) proper
scaffolding and (b) the hire of a cherry picker or, depending upon
having suitable access at ground level, a mobile scissors lift.

--
--

Colin Bignell

Nightjar Wrote in message:
On 02/06/2018 12:05, wrote:
Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys), ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

I have always found scaffolding towers to be cumbersome, particularly if
you need to keep moving them. I would get a quote for (a) proper
scaffolding and (b) the hire of a cherry picker or, depending upon
having suitable access at ground level, a mobile scissors lift.


If the ground is level & smooth enough for a scissor lift I don't
see a problem with moving a scaffold tower.

My local independent hire shop are adept at combining multiple
towers & other bits to suit any situation I've thrown at them
over the years, including a 4 storey high chimney access job -
looked like Cape Canaveral but solid & inexpensive, they put it
up & took it down.
--
Jim K


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http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On Saturday, 2 June 2018 12:05:55 UTC+1, wrote:
Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys), ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

Thanks in advance,

Clive

of course.

Missing pointing affects rain ingress & if a lot is missing, structural integrity. Re raking, you just need to ensure the new mortar meets the bricks above & below.


NT

In article ,
Nightjar wrote:
I have always found scaffolding towers to be cumbersome, particularly if
you need to keep moving them. I would get a quote for (a) proper
scaffolding and (b) the hire of a cherry picker or, depending upon
having suitable access at ground level, a mobile scissors lift.

Having fairly recently had my house scaffolded for painting, it pays to
shop around. Quotes here varied by 100%. Get an idea of a guide price then
perhaps grab a scaffolder working in the area and get him to quote. That's
how I got the best deal.

--
*I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Having done it before I don't see a problem with re-pointing from a tower. It is is not like painting where you would have to keep going back to the same area to prime, undercoat etc.

wrote:
Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have
relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys),
ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing
missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water
ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is
going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this
pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs
to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were
just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall
out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work
involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult
and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also
told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a
price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a
moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall
wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and
resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

Consider a cherry picker. I hired a small towable one when I painted my
house and it was a huge help.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 02/06/2018 14:47, Tim+ wrote:
wrote:
Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have
relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys),
ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing
missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water
ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is
going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this
pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs
to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were
just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall
out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work
involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult
and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also
told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a
price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a
moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall
wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and
resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

Consider a cherry picker. I hired a small towable one when I painted my
house and it was a huge help.

Tim

Scaffolding may be cheaper than hiring a cherrypicker for several days.
You or whoever does the re-pointing can then take their time and avoid
working in bad weather.
If going the scaffolding route get a price for erecting, dismantling AND
hire for worst case scenario timewise.
Does anyone else in an adjacent flat need to do work ? Can you share the
costs ?

If the whole block is going to be decorated, the block may well have to
be scaffolded anyway - can you not do the work then ?

On 02/06/2018 12:05, wrote:

Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys), ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is "expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved cheaper in the long run.

Thanks in advance,

Clive



My house is a similar height. I pointed the brickwork where necessary
and repainted last year. I found that a scaffold tower was cheapest
because of the amount of proper scaffold it would have needed. It is
possible to move a tower of that height but the surface has to be dead
level and smooth. Definitely not grass.
Obviously you need a proper tower, 4ft x 6ft. Figure out how many
'lifts' (floors you need for convenient working.
The first thing I did at each location was drill the walls and insert
anchor bolt eyes at two heights at 2m intervals. These stay in and will
be useful in the future. They made the tower very secure.
You must rake out deeply and fill properly. Don't leave a gap behind the
new mortar.
You can buy a suitable tower for about £1,700 + VAT. I hired at £120 per
week.

Bill

On 02/06/2018 12:20, Nightjar wrote:
On 02/06/2018 12:05, wrote:
Hi,

Although not a DIY question, the people on this group may well have
relevant knowledge and experience.

I have a flat, in a small block of nine, with three floors (storeys),
ground, first and second. On the upper storey there is a lot of
pointing missing and although it may not affect the wall's ability to
rsist water ingress, the big gaps in the pointing looks unsightly. As
the block is going to be decorated it seems penny-pinching not to
address this pointing. As I understand, to make a durable job some of
the mortar needs to be raked out before putting in new pointing
mortar. If the gaps were just filled with mortar without raking I am
told the mortar would fall out in a "few" years. Because of the
height, and the nature work involved, I am told (and it seems correct
to me) it would be difficult and probably dangerous to try to do this
work from ladders. I am also told to scaffold the whole block is
"expensive" (although I don't have a price). Does anyone think it is
realistic for the work to be done from a moveable scaffolding tower
that was somehow securely tied into the wall wherever particular work
was being done? We could even buy a tower and resell it if that proved
cheaper in the long run.

I have always found scaffolding towers to be cumbersome, particularly if
you need to keep moving them. I would get a quote for (a) proper
scaffolding and (b) the hire of a cherry picker or, depending upon
having suitable access at ground level, a mobile scissors lift.

The devil is in the detail, though. It's easy to run mine along the
front of the house, which has a narrow concrete "path" adjacent to the
wall and using scaffold boards for the outer wheels over a lawn. I have
a second hand professional aluminium one which is about 6' x 4', with
outriggers it is perfectly stable up to the gutter of the 3 story bit.

Mine cost about £600 off ebay, it was well used but still functional.
The buffalo board on the platforms is beginning to look a bit tired
after about 10 years stored outside since I bought it.

I would strongly recommend a second hand aluminium "pro" tower over a
budget steel one. But yes, cherry picker or scissors lift may be another
option.

---
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In article ,
Robert writes:
Scaffolding may be cheaper than hiring a cherrypicker for several days.
You or whoever does the re-pointing can then take their time and avoid
working in bad weather.

I had scaffolding erected when I repointed, but it had to go to the top
of, and around, the chimney in my case. It did make it very easy to do
the work. IIRC, it was around £450 for a gable end plus up and around
the chimney at the roof apex, with several lifts (working platforms) to
access the higher parts of the wall and chimney, and a pulley and rope.
In comparison, it was £300 to have scaffolding up to the gutter line
on the front or back walls, with two lifts, and strong enough to store
the concrete roof tiles whilst I refelted and rebattened part of the roof.
This was some years ago, and prices vary by location - much more expensive
in London for example.

If going the scaffolding route get a price for erecting, dismantling AND
hire for worst case scenario timewise.

IME, the cost includes erecting, dismantling, and 4 weeks hire. The cost
per extra week is tiny and not worth worrying about (and they have never
bothered to charge me it anyway). It can be more of an issue getting it
taken down at all. Many scaffolding companies can only store a small
amount of their scaffolding and rely on most of it being erected somewhere
most of the time, so it can end up staying up until they have somewhere
else to move it to. This is not great if you just had lots of new lead
flashing fitted, and would rather the scaffolding was taken down before
someone uses it to steal all the lead.

--
Andrew Gabriel
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