Brick acid and slate flags

[FamilyWiggs]

Festive felicitations to all.

Now the family have gone after Christmas, I've been thinking how to remove the mortar from the slate flags. Although I was careful when laying/grouting, there are a couple that need good cleaning before I can oil them.

I done the usual elbow grease and fake-metal pan scourers approach, but there are resistant patches.

The mortar is mostly lime but there is a little bit of cement in there too.

Would brick acid be a good bet, or will it do something to the slate?

 

[Lime]

I think acid brick cleaner is fine on slate it's the mortar between slates you have to worry about.
Happy New Year.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Thanks Lime. Will try it later - and be careful at the edges.

We're off first to brave the chavs in Chester and marvel at all the 150% off sales.

 

[Penners]

FW - I'm sure you would do this anyway, but do try a small test patch of your brick acid in an insignificant place, just in case.

However, I'm sure Lime is right - it should be fine.

By the way, buying products at 150% off is not exactly doing your patriotic duty. You're supposed to be putting money into the retailers' pockets, to save us all from armageddon.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Thanks Penners - have selected an inconspicuous spot in the middle of the floor, since it is usually covered by the rug!

Crikey - the Credit Crunchie really must be biting. Even Poundland had a closing down sale. We boycotted all the shops with only "50% off" sales as there'll be greater savings next week when they go into administration too. Joking aside, it really is quite grim out there. Thank god I've got the 2.13% VAT savings from Saviour Brown to fall back on.

My favourite fluorescent screaming sign in a shop window today said:

"Closing Down Sale

Everything Must Go

(Selected Items Only)"

Now - how does that work then?

 

[Moo]

Our local branch of N*x* attracted a sizeable queue yesterday, waiting for the sale to begin at 5.00am (banners announced 50% Off All Sale Items).
At about 8.30am a couple of women waiting in St**bu**s for motorised help with their carrier bags were comparing notes: one had spent £350, the other over £600. This, I gather from an impeccable inside source, was par for the course that morning.

 

[Penners]

"Closing Down Sale

Everything Must Go

(Selected Items Only)"

That's a bit like the sign we saw in Norfolk, a while ago:

"All-Day Breakfast

served 8.00am - 11.30am"

 

[plumbers mate]

Poundland are supposed to be making a big profit at present - as everything is a pound they are attracting a lot of new customers.
I have this love/hate relationship with them - Hate it when I am in there ,tripping over pushchairs etc, but I love it when I get out and realise how little I spent.

 

[Penners]

Our local branch of N*x*.

Nixo? Noxa? Nexi?

Nope - sorry. Obvussly sahthin' we doon hev dewn in Sahffolk.

 

[Penners]

NEXT!!

Oi'm spahklin' tudday!