Insulation marks between red bricks

McSween

Is there any way of dyeing the cement filler that was put between a hand full of bricks. The insulation is done since 2016 and is a bit untidy. Can it be coloured, and can it be sanded to tidy?

I may be getting a new front door so want to clean up the front porch brick work. Thanks.

jack of all

How about a few photos to illustrate the problem?

McSween

Here you go. 2 below window and 2 towards the top i am not there at the moment so have to rely on the provided pic

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405358#Comment_119405358

Yes it’s possible to get dye to colour the cement mortar filling of the insulation holes to match the original coloured mortar bed-joints between the bricks.

Retain a qualified Plaster Craftsperson or Mason.

They should remove the existing mortar in approx 30 mm, and make up cement mortar with a dye to match the existing, and refill the holes.

The person that filled these holes in colour mortar of the brickwork with ordinary cement mortar was an unqualified incompetent Moran.

You can see many houses that looks like the house has the Measles after these unqualified Plonkers.

We will see many of this unsightly patching of holes after the insulation is pumped in to the cavity, by incompetent unqualified idiots in the future with the new SEAI grants.

There holes should only be filled by a qualified Craftsperson Plasterer or a Mason.

When you are getting your cavity pumped with insulation, insist that the company giving you the quote, will confirm in writing that the filling of the holes will be completed by a qualified Craftsperson Plasterer or Mason.

All of these Qualified Plasterers and Masons should have a National Craft Certificate. Ask to see their Certificate.

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405998#Comment_119405998

Do you really think insulation companies are going to employ ‘qualified craftsperson/masons’….or sub out this type of work to them….?

standardg60

Grout pen or even a permanent marker?

Still stihl waters 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405998#Comment_119405998

You don't live in the real world I take it

noplacehere

To be fair I had this done in the last and they did colour the plaster grout to match. I’d be raging with the above and we are red brick too

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119439826#Comment_119439826

Absolutely not.

They will be employing the Re-skilled and Up-skilled persons from the FÁS two week courses.

This is why many of the houses appear to have the measles.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442204#Comment_119442204

The rain and Sun and wind will wash it out in a year or two.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442218#Comment_119442218

And your solution for the real world, to rectify the problem in restoring the colour to last for many years.

moceri

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405998#Comment_119405998

It's hardly rocket science to match the mortar to the existing colour.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442872#Comment_119442872

I'd take that if i wasn't too handy.

Best option is to remove it with a small angle grinder as you say and repoint.

Hardly needs a qualified professional though.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442934#Comment_119442934

If it’s so simple, why is it in its present state of the totally incorrect colour.

Still stihl waters 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442934#Comment_119442934

It obviously needs a trained plasterer/Mason with papers, i don't even know where I'd find my cert now if someone asked for it and I have it nearly 3 decades and in all that time I've never been asked to produce it on any site I've worked on, good job I've never met Clint or I'd have been sent home for not having it on me

Still stihl waters 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442933#Comment_119442933

Youd never get it exactly right I'd say but you wouldn't be too far off, it could look bang on when you'd do it and dry a darker or lighter shade

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442933#Comment_119442933

Then why did the insulation company who were paid to make the new mortar match the original, when they were filling an already drilled hole, make an unbelievable mess of it.

If it’s so simple why are there many houses all over the country, which appear to have the measles.

JustJoe7240

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405998#Comment_119405998

You'd get some response if a punter asked a tradesman to see his papers to point up a couple of holes in a wall.

You shouldn't get so worked up over such trivial matters, It's not good for your health.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119443084#Comment_119443084

Take a look at the photo posted above by the OP. Try and picture the rest of the exterior of the house.

It’s possible that this is a 2 storey house.

It will €€€€ cost the Homeowners to have this rectified by a proper contractor.

You would have said to the contractor- That’s a fantastic job, well done and here is your payment in full.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119443536#Comment_119443536

It doesn't need a "proper" contractor to repoint a couple of bricks.

GalwayMan74

"There holes should only be filled by a qualified Craftsperson Plasterer or a Mason."

😂

Ring up a few lads there and ask them to do this and see what they say.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119442934#Comment_119442934

The holes required to pump in the insulation are approx 20 mm dia, and in the photo above are drilled in the bed joints at the perpends of the brickwork. Therefore the lower corners of the 2 bricks adjacent to the perpends are damaged.

These lower corners of the 2 bricks must be repaired with matching mortar.

In a 2 storey house there could be between 100 and 150 holes

The Healthy and Safety Acts requires a Scaffold and/or Cherry Picker to carry out the repairs above ground floor level.

I would remove the incorrectly coloured mortar with a masonry drill bit and with a very small chisel and hammer. The incorrect mortar should be removed for approx 30 to 40 mm deep.

It will also be necessary to clean off the incorrect coloured mortar from the face of the clay bricks.

The lower corners of the 2 damaged bricks will firstly need to be repaired with coloured mortar and allowed to cure for a few days before the mortar pointing can be repaired with a correctly coloured mortar.

The hole in the bed joint and the perpend is 20 mm dia, and using a 100 mm Disc in an angle grinder will elongated the hole in the bed joint to approx 100 mm long.

Now this 100 mm x 10 mm bed joint must be filled with coloured mortar, which will make the patching more noticeable in all of the patched holes.

Why anyone would use an Angle Grinder to repair the existing terrible damage is not logical.

It would have been far easier to have a qualified Mason or Plasterer carry out the reinstatement of the 100 - 150 holes in the first instance.

Furthermore, if the 20 mm holes were drilled in the centre of the clay bricks, it would be easier to patch the holes in the bricks with coloured mortar, and less noticeable on completion.

dathi

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Construction/Using_Ladders_Safely_-_Information_Sheet.html

Ladders should only be used as work equipment where a risk assessment shows the use of other work equipment is not justified. The work at height regulations do not ban ladders but do require careful consideration to be given to their use. 

Still stihl waters 3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119443934#Comment_119443934

Lol