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Pointing Accrington brickwork.

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Poster

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Sep 23, 2008, 5:41:10 AM9/23/08
to
Part of the frontage of my 1930's semi is in Accrington brick up to
the level of the sill of the front room bay window. The remainder of
the frontage is rendered and painted white.
The Accrington brickwork requires repointing and a couple of firms are
giving me estimates. One tells me that mastic is the best material to
use the other tells me red sand and cement is best. Both say that a
rub down with oil will give a good appearance.
I know nothing of these things. What is the groups opinion on the best
way to go, please, mastic or sand and cement?

Don

sm_jamieson

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Sep 23, 2008, 6:06:05 AM9/23/08
to

Not answering the question, but what is different about "accrington"
brick to any other brick ?
Using mastic to repoint bricks sounds bizzarre, also rubbing down with
oil.
Are these bricks glazed or something ?
Simon.

Poster

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Sep 23, 2008, 6:26:13 AM9/23/08
to

I've heard them called 'engineering bricks' and Nori bricks, not
glazed but very hard. They're used a lot up 'ere in't north and look
rit grand when done proper.

Don

NOSP...@gmail.com

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Sep 23, 2008, 6:35:38 AM9/23/08
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On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:06:05 -0700 (PDT), sm_jamieson
<sm_ja...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Something like this
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f66/nori-brick-4998.html

This might help the OP as well
http://www.nori-acidbrick.com/Products.htm

R D S

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Sep 23, 2008, 6:48:45 AM9/23/08
to
Poster wrote:
> I've heard them called 'engineering bricks' and Nori bricks, not
> glazed but very hard.

Aren't they!

I need to cut a 6 inch hole through some for a vent, it's a job i've been
putting off.


Bruce

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Sep 23, 2008, 6:44:29 AM9/23/08
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sm_jamieson <sm_ja...@hotmail.com> wrote:


Accrington brick is a bright red and has a semi-glazed appearance. It
is highly water- and acid-resistant. It was extremely popular in the
Lancashire mill towns where high rainfall, winter freeze/thaw cycles
and acid rain from the mill chimneys made for a very aggressive
environment that demanded a very durable brick.

In these towns, the only other way to get a waterproof building was to
use stone, which was of course much more expensive.

Accrington bricks have continued to be used as engineering bricks in
demanding environments from the 1880s until 2008. Sadly, the closure
of the Accrington brick works, part of Marshalls, now owned by the
Hanson Group, itself a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement, was announced
only yesterday.

http://www.nori-acidbrick.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallbrainfield/2542906952/

Bruce

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Sep 23, 2008, 7:01:20 AM9/23/08
to
Bruce <n...@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>Accrington brick is a bright red and has a semi-glazed appearance. It
>is highly water- and acid-resistant. It was extremely popular in the
>Lancashire mill towns where high rainfall, winter freeze/thaw cycles
>and acid rain from the mill chimneys made for a very aggressive
>environment that demanded a very durable brick.
>
>In these towns, the only other way to get a waterproof building was to
>use stone, which was of course much more expensive.
>
>Accrington bricks have continued to be used as engineering bricks in
>demanding environments from the 1880s until 2008. Sadly, the closure
>of the Accrington brick works, part of Marshalls, now owned by the
>Hanson Group, itself a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement, was announced
>only yesterday.
>
>http://www.nori-acidbrick.com/
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallbrainfield/2542906952/


Link to news article in the "Lancashire Telegraph" about the closure:

http://tinyurl.com/4mdgqo

R D S

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Sep 23, 2008, 10:15:26 AM9/23/08
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"Poster" <pos...@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:qjdhd45dghk7s1gsc...@4ax.com...

> Part of the frontage of my 1930's semi is in Accrington brick

Oddly...
http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/3694230.Famous_Accrington_brick_manufacturer_to_close/

'THE historic manufacturer of Accrington Brick is to close with bosses
blaming the economic slowdown. '


Poster

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Sep 23, 2008, 2:27:53 PM9/23/08
to

That is very sad news, especially for the workers there. There are
some mighty fine buildings in the North West built entirely of
accrington brick, or Lancashire Bloods as I believe they were also
known.
I haven't made much progress with my query as to whether they should
be pointed with sand & cement or mastic, but one of the DIY Forums had
this:
"Don't worry..I think we had the wrong materials in ours. I suppose we
could sue the people who advised us but.....
Just make sure you use sand and cement. You may not know about
Accrington Brick ..it has very tight joins and is very non-porous so
red mastic was suggested..it is now coming out."

I suppose that could be due to poor workmanship rather than the wrong
material.

Don

mick

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Sep 23, 2008, 2:45:34 PM9/23/08
to


I've been looking for similar info as we have a gable end all built in
Accrington brick and it looks to my untrained eye as if it could do with
some pointing.

--
Mick (Working in a M$-free zone!)
Web: http://www.nascom.info http://mixpix.batcave.net
Filtering everything posted from googlegroups to kill spam.

Anna Kettle

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Sep 23, 2008, 3:24:22 PM9/23/08
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On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:27:53 +0100, Poster <pos...@tesco.net> wrote:

>Just make sure you use sand and cement. You may not know about
>Accrington Brick ..it has very tight joins

Which I suppose is why mastic was suggested because it will be easier
to get into the crack between the bricks

You should use sand/cement mortar or better still sand/hydraulic lime
mortar which is probably what was used originally. The pointing of a
brick wall is a sacrificial layer and should be weaker than the brick
(sounds easy in this case) and more porous than the brick (which
mastic isnt) to give a route for water to find its way out

Water will find a way out one way or another and it has done it by
blowing the mastic

Anna
--
Anna Kettle
Lime plaster repair and conservation
Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
Tel:    (+44)  01359 230642
Mob:  (+44)  07976 649862
Please look at my website for examples of my work at:
www.kettlenet.co.uk  

Poster

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Sep 24, 2008, 6:58:51 AM9/24/08
to
On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:45:34 GMT, mick <not....@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:41:10 +0100, Poster wrote:
>
>> Part of the frontage of my 1930's semi is in Accrington brick up to the
>> level of the sill of the front room bay window. The remainder of the
>> frontage is rendered and painted white. The Accrington brickwork
>> requires repointing and a couple of firms are giving me estimates. One
>> tells me that mastic is the best material to use the other tells me red
>> sand and cement is best. Both say that a rub down with oil will give a
>> good appearance. I know nothing of these things. What is the groups
>> opinion on the best way to go, please, mastic or sand and cement?
>>
>
>
>I've been looking for similar info as we have a gable end all built in
>Accrington brick and it looks to my untrained eye as if it could do with
>some pointing.

Looks like there's only Anna who knows anything about it!

Don

Poster

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Sep 24, 2008, 6:58:51 AM9/24/08
to
On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:24:22 GMT, n...@home.co.uk (Anna Kettle) wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:27:53 +0100, Poster <pos...@tesco.net> wrote:
>
>>Just make sure you use sand and cement. You may not know about
>>Accrington Brick ..it has very tight joins
>
>Which I suppose is why mastic was suggested because it will be easier
>to get into the crack between the bricks
>
>You should use sand/cement mortar or better still sand/hydraulic lime
>mortar which is probably what was used originally. The pointing of a
>brick wall is a sacrificial layer and should be weaker than the brick
>(sounds easy in this case) and more porous than the brick (which
>mastic isnt) to give a route for water to find its way out
>
>Water will find a way out one way or another and it has done it by
>blowing the mastic
>
>Anna

Thanks Anna, I will follow your advice.

(Enjoyed your website BTW)

Don

Dragon Slayer

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Sep 24, 2008, 3:15:07 PM9/24/08
to
> Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Four parts building sand.
One sharp sand.
One lime.
One cement.
Cant go wrong with that mix for re-pointing.

JTM

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Oct 1, 2008, 6:22:50 AM10/1/08
to
In article
<e2abc093-b2a7-4b1a...@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,

When I were a lad,

Pointing Nori brick was done with what looked like red sand mixed with oil.
There might have been other stuff in the mix- idon't know. One slight
drawback was that the oil (linseed I believe) was popular with the sparrows
who seemed to find it very palatable

John

--
John Mulrooney
NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while.

Bruce

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Oct 1, 2008, 7:43:38 AM10/1/08
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JTM <usen...@free.fr> wrote:
>
>When I were a lad,
>
>Pointing Nori brick was done with what looked like red sand mixed with oil.
> There might have been other stuff in the mix- idon't know. One slight
>drawback was that the oil (linseed I believe) was popular with the sparrows
>who seemed to find it very palatable


Are you sure you aren't thinking of "red raddle", which was a
decorative treatment used to colour the bricks and/or mortar?

The bricks should be pointed with lime mortar. Treating afterwards
with red raddle is optional. ;-)

JTM

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Oct 1, 2008, 2:42:19 PM10/1/08
to
In article <afo6e41hi4uf6sjdf...@4ax.com>,

Red raddle. A red pigment used to mark sheep / red iron ore.

Might be I recall that the dryish morter like stuff went into the joints
and stood proud when finished. Definitely the joints and not the brick
face. Accy Nori brick is often shiny anyway

John

Bruce

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Oct 1, 2008, 4:09:40 PM10/1/08
to
JTM <usen...@free.fr> wrote:


I think you recall correctly. In other parts of northern England,
where Accrington brick was not the most popular choice, the red raddle
was also used to colour the bricks. But as you say, it would not have
adhered well to the Nori bricks.

Phillip Holden

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Jun 1, 2017, 5:14:04 PM6/1/17
to
replying to Poster, Phillip Holden wrote:
Yes Accrington class A bricks are one of the best bricks in the World.
The red Nori brick is the least porous of any other brick and I personally
would recommend using "red mastic" to point between the joints.
The joints between the bricks should be cleaned out first and then the
vertical joints should be pointed first and then the horizontal.
Tubs of Red Mastic can be bought from any decent builders merchants.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/pointing-accrington-brickwork-509732-.htm


alan_m

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Jun 1, 2017, 5:29:56 PM6/1/17
to
On 01/06/2017 22:14, Phillip Holden wrote:
> replying to Poster, Phillip Holden wrote:
> Yes Accrington class A bricks are porous and I personally
> would recommend using mastic to clean out the
> vertical joints
>


I assume that the original poster has pointed his brickwork in the 9
years since asking the question.

It appears yet again the users of the home crap hub cannot read dates
not quote from the original post.

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Tim+

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Jun 1, 2017, 5:43:39 PM6/1/17
to
alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 01/06/2017 22:14, Phillip Holden wrote:
>> replying to Poster, Phillip Holden wrote:
>> Yes Accrington class A bricks are porous and I personally
>> would recommend using mastic to clean out the
>> vertical joints
>>
>
>
> I assume that the original poster has pointed his brickwork in the 9
> years since asking the question.
>
> It appears yet again the users of the home crap hub cannot read dates
> not quote from the original post.
>

It's in their charter. "Thou shalt not quote nor create a new thread. The
only true way is to respond to ancient messages. Never ever acknowledge
responses. Anything else is heresy."

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

Poster

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Jun 1, 2017, 6:44:07 PM6/1/17
to
replying to Phillip Holden, Poster wrote:
I'm sure the original poster has fixed the problem, or died, or something.

The OP is from 2008 you geniuses...

Tim Watts

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Jun 2, 2017, 3:22:47 AM6/2/17
to
Your post actually made it back to their site:

https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/pointing-accrington-brickwork-509732-1.htm

Given their users are so clueless (can't read dates) I don't think any
of them should be attempting anything beyond breathing.

Fredxxx

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Jun 2, 2017, 6:49:20 AM6/2/17
to
On 01/06/2017 22:14, Phillip Holden wrote:
> replying to Poster, Phillip Holden wrote:
> Yes Accrington class A bricks are one of the best bricks in the World.
> The red Nori brick is the least porous of any other brick and I personally
> would recommend using "red mastic" to point between the joints.
> The joints between the bricks should be cleaned out first and then the
> vertical joints should be pointed first and then the horizontal. Tubs of
> Red Mastic can be bought from any decent builders merchants.

I had initially thought this was spam from the homeowners webshite like
a number of recent posts.

However I'm sure that any self respecting website owner operator
wouldn't reply to 9 year old posts.

tabb...@gmail.com

unread,
Jun 2, 2017, 10:16:06 AM6/2/17
to
Where do you get the idea that they might be self respecting?
You're right though that they let their users do the spamming for them unintentionally.


NT

tabb...@gmail.com

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Jun 2, 2017, 10:17:53 AM6/2/17
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A couple of regulars here think even that is too much. FWIW I think that would be a tad OTT for the sin of being web-clueless.


NT

Dave W

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Jun 2, 2017, 6:30:55 PM6/2/17
to

<tabb...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:b5dea757-ac94-4552...@googlegroups.com...
I wonder if it's possible to re-enter all posts received here from HOH back
into HOH automatically? That might mess up their threads and deter their
users.
--
Dave W


tabb...@gmail.com

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Jun 3, 2017, 2:50:31 PM6/3/17
to
On Friday, 2 June 2017 23:30:55 UTC+1, Dave W wrote:
> <tabbypurr> wrote in message
> news:b5dea757-ac94-4552...@googlegroups.com...
> > On Friday, 2 June 2017 11:49:20 UTC+1, Fredxxx wrote:
> >> On 01/06/2017 22:14, Phillip Holden wrote:
> >> > replying to Poster, Phillip Holden wrote:

> >> > Yes Accrington class A bricks are one of the best bricks in the World.
> >> > The red Nori brick is the least porous of any other brick and I
> >> > personally
> >> > would recommend using "red mastic" to point between the joints.
> >> > The joints between the bricks should be cleaned out first and then the
> >> > vertical joints should be pointed first and then the horizontal. Tubs
> >> > of
> >> > Red Mastic can be bought from any decent builders merchants.
> >>
> >> I had initially thought this was spam from the homeowners webshite like
> >> a number of recent posts.
> >>
> >> However I'm sure that any self respecting website owner operator
> >> wouldn't reply to 9 year old posts.
> >
> > Where do you get the idea that they might be self respecting?
> > You're right though that they let their users do the spamming for them
> > unintentionally.
> >
> I wonder if it's possible to re-enter all posts received here from HOH back
> into HOH automatically? That might mess up their threads and deter their
> users.

I'm sure their users would be none the wiser.


NT

Mastercraftsman

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Jun 13, 2019, 12:44:04 PM6/13/19
to
replying to alan_m, Mastercraftsman wrote:
I'm sure there will be people looking for up to date new products

fcbolton

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May 2, 2020, 1:14:04 PM5/2/20
to
replying to Poster, fcbolton wrote:
going back many years...... mastic could be bought in bags as dry sand
together with a powdered red dye. for red accringtons rake out the joints as
depth of about6mm (the original mortar is likely to be "clog iron
mortar".which is based on ground ashes .buildings built late 19th century
before cement was widely available. mix the mastic powder with BOILED
linseed oil (some say double boiled linseed oil) paint the raked out
joint with a primer of boiled linseed oil. point the joint with the mixed
mortar. the mix should be fairly stiff but well mixed . do the vertical
sections first try and do about 1m sq at a time.. the boiled oil acts as a
drying agent and will take days to set (compare with cement mortar which sets
within 3hours.. when the who wall is complete paint the whole wall surface
brick face and new joints with one coat boiled linseed oil. allow to set(set
not dry). i have made small samples of boiled oil based mortars and they
set to a vey hard mass. only do this type of pointing to accrington hor
semi engineering brick. the normal modern brick requires a weak cement lime
sand mortar water mixed this allows any dampness to evaporate through the
joints NOT through though the face of the brick normal recc is 1 1 6
cement lime sand mix. many 19th cent buildings may not have been built
with a cavity thus rain kept out with the boiled linseed.

p

Wendy

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Sep 18, 2021, 6:01:19 PM9/18/21
to
The oil gives it a lovely shine and helps with weathering

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/pointing-accrington-brickwork-509732-.htm

Wendy

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Sep 18, 2021, 6:31:13 PM9/18/21
to
You need to use sand and cement; you can put a wee bit of red cement dye in it to blend in with the brick too

bob

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Sep 18, 2021, 8:01:23 PM9/18/21
to
Not sure how useful that is, *12 years* after the original question.

ARW

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Sep 19, 2021, 3:00:32 AM9/19/21
to
On 19/09/2021 01:01, bob wrote:
> Not sure how useful that is, *12 years* after the original question.
>

:-)

Steve Walker

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Sep 19, 2021, 3:04:24 AM9/19/21
to
On 19/09/2021 01:01, bob wrote:
> Not sure how useful that is, *12 years* after the original question.

If it wasn't done properly the first time, it might be due a repoint now ;)

Chris Bacon

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Sep 19, 2021, 7:17:55 AM9/19/21
to
On 19/09/2021 01:01, bob wrote:
> Not sure how useful that is, *12 years* after the original question.

It's good that stuff comes in from "homeowners hub". At least it's DIY
related.

Brian Gaff (Sofa)

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Sep 19, 2021, 10:35:15 AM9/19/21
to
Yes I guess it looks like that stupid home owners club database is as busted
as usual, and I have to point out that since the original question does not
arrive with the answer after all that time, we are often no wiser what the
poster is on about. Why don't the Admins of Usenet threaten to cut them off
from the backbone unless they fix their dodgy software?
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"bob" <fb1285b2dd78b389...@example.com> wrote in message
news:16a610283e3edb04$1$2537919$4286...@news.newsgroupdirect.com...

Rod Speed

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Sep 19, 2021, 3:03:32 PM9/19/21
to
Brian Gaff (Sofa) <bri...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote

> Yes I guess it looks like that stupid home owners club database is as
> busted as usual, and I have to point out that since the original question
> does not arrive with the answer after all that time, we are often no wiser
> what the poster is on about.

The link at the bottom tells you that.

> Why don't the Admins of Usenet

No such animal.

> threaten to cut them off from the backbone unless they fix their dodgy
> software?

Because there is no such animal.


> bob <fb1285b2dd78b389...@example.com> wrote

Peeler

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Sep 19, 2021, 4:56:48 PM9/19/21
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On Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:03:24 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the abnormal trolling senile cretin's latest trollshit unread>

--
"Anonymous" to trolling senile Rodent Speed:
"You can fuck off as you know less than pig shit you sad
little ignorant cunt."
MID: <62dcaae57b421e2b...@haph.org>

Unknown

unread,
Sep 20, 2021, 10:01:13 AM9/20/21
to
Brian Gaff (Sofa) brought next idea :
> Yes I guess it looks like that stupid home owners club database is as busted
> as usual, and I have to point out that since the original question does not
> arrive with the answer after all that time, we are often no wiser what the
> poster is on about. Why don't the Admins of Usenet threaten to cut them off
> from the backbone unless they fix their dodgy software?
> Brian

+1

It might be better to have them cut off at the source, though.

Heath

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Nov 30, 2022, 11:31:33 PM11/30/22
to
Repointing in mastic was one way but now outdated an is far oil sealant was more to help keep the mastic supple. There are plenty shine non , biodregrable and eco friendly . Done right the pointing would easily see out the time. To many are scared to approach the 2/3mm beds an perps. Mostly these have to opened up to get a good grip of the ash and like ther were built in plus dyes are extremely common were you can choose depth of colour.

Brian Gaff

unread,
Dec 2, 2022, 11:27:09 AM12/2/22
to
Note to those who post on Home owners club.The interface is crap and unless
you quote the message, it never makes it outside of the web site, even
though it does hava a usenet connection.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
bri...@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Heath" <23a26ce69218b370...@example.com> wrote in message
news:172c9116fc9127c6$283$3552867$cbd3...@news.newsgroupdirect.com...

Animal

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Dec 2, 2022, 4:47:30 PM12/2/22
to
On Friday, 2 December 2022 at 16:27:09 UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
> Note to those who post on Home owners club.The interface is crap and unless
> you quote the message, it never makes it outside of the web site, even
> though it does hava a usenet connection.
> Brian

they never listen

Bertie

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Dec 2, 2022, 5:32:01 PM12/2/22
to
And now in English? Not that it matters 14 years after the question was asked.

Heath

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Dec 2, 2022, 5:32:02 PM12/2/22
to
Stay away from mastic you will end up with patches and the oil can dirty especially on a well used road,dependent of previous pointing or if never done it will probably be caol dust and lime. Have a builder do small test panels using a dye. Make sure he uses a 5" grinder as nori are 112mm.not 102 like normal brick as far protection of weather's use a breathable water reppelent pref not shiny but each the own. Good luck

chop

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Dec 2, 2022, 6:33:04 PM12/2/22
to
A few do and only reply to recent posts.

Peeler

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Dec 3, 2022, 3:12:30 AM12/3/22
to
On Sat, 03 Dec 2022 10:32:55 +1100, chop, better known as cantankerous
trolling senile geezer Rodent Speed, wrote:

<FLUSH the abnormal trolling senile cretin's latest trollshit unread>

--
The Natural Philosopher about senile Rodent:
"Rod speed is not a Brexiteer. He is an Australian troll and arsehole."
Message-ID: <pu07vj$s5$2...@dont-email.me>

Animal

unread,
Dec 4, 2022, 11:26:51 AM12/4/22
to
On Friday, 2 December 2022 at 22:32:02 UTC, Heath wrote:
> Stay away from mastic you will end up with patches and the oil can dirty especially on a well used road,dependent of previous pointing or if never done it will probably be caol dust and lime. Have a builder do small test panels using a dye.

Dyes leech out in streaks over several years, I'd almost always avoid them for pointing.

> Make sure he uses a 5" grinder as nori are 112mm.not 102 like normal brick

terrible idea

> as far protection of weather's use a breathable water reppelent pref not shiny but each the own. Good luck

no, seriously.
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