The building is 23 years old cinder block construction and seems solid except for a few areas where you can see where the mortar has disintegrated (here and there) between the blocks and you can see daylight. Any ideas on patch and fill? or is this indicative of a bad mortar job?
The Old Guy in Vancouver BC
Replies
Well it sounds like simple Parge job.
If the blocks really are all in tack and their are no structural issues
Just scrape/chisel out the rotten mortar.
Remove all dust
mix up some fairly dry mortar
and point the joints.
Maybe think about sealing the wall after your done.
get a small tuckpointing trowel, mix some fresh morter (as said before) and tuckpoint the areas.....When in doubt, get a bigger hammer!
Thanks, this building is used as a brake and tire shop and the back wall would be a 100' x 20'. I was in for tires for my truck and the owner pointed out the crumbling mortar. I'm in construction so I said I would seek some input. I will have a closer long today to see how extensive the problem is . I hope I can fill and point so really appreciate the ideas
Your welcome
Having reread this thread, I think I was sleep posting!
Sorry if I wasn't too articulate.
The other points raised are good advise too. Keep the mortar from drying out to much
Fill the voids thoroughly.
compressing the mortar is the key to a lasting job
If you need to clean up do it the next day no longer.
There I think I made sense this time
Are there spaced pilasters in the (very long/tall) block wall? If not, that may be one reason the mortar has popped out.
Jeff
When repointing it is important that the blocks are lightly wetted to ensure the mortar cures properly. If the mortar is put into bone dry blocks the moisture will be drawn out of the mortar and it becomes dust.
Just out of curiosity - is it a house or what?
Use the premix stuff and add a trowel worth of lime per hawk, it'llbe sticky as hell, but thats what ya want.
If you wet the area, it'll bleed out. Don't Do That.
Tool with your spoon to match the rake, and brush away the flakes.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Good point about the run out. you do need it moist tho. I hose the surface first thing.
Then mix mortar,set up sight.
It doesn't take long for the surface to dry.
Thanks guys for all the input, it's great to know all the support that's out there.
The Old Guy