Privy advice

[vicky whitworth]

Hi, could I have your opinions on two things?
Firstly, I'm about to start re-building the walls of my rubble stone privy. We have replaced the roof timbers and the tiles but there are significant areas of the walls where the outer stones have fallen out. The reason being it had huge holes in the roof and the water ran down between the inner and outer layers of the wall into the earth core. Then it was eaten up by ivy. And there are areas half a metre square where the outer stones have dropped out. So it looks a bit like a manky cat with patches where the fur has fallen out and other bits which are pretty solid. So I'm about to re-build using lime but my question is how high a rise can I make in one session? Could I do all of a half metre square in one hit or should I do a smaller area and wait for the lime mortar to cure before progressing? I was thinking about this and thought I must be able do do a reasonable height at any one time or cathedrals would never have been finished.

Secondly I need to get Sandtex off the rubble stone walls of the cottage. The chaps at Strippers have been trying to help me find the right potion but so far I've had minimal success. What would you suggest?

Thanks.http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/posting.php?mode=post&f=1&sid=9a8dffcf4dd349d3b02f795a13dff831#

 

[Ian Bond]

When I've done repairs to damaged walls, I've usually done the whole area at one go, around 4 feet x 4 feet.

It's mainly because I've wanted to get either the brick or stone back in place as quickly as possible, because there was nothing propping the remaining wall above (apart from the weight being carried either side of the hole by the surrounding masonry, like an arch, and the mortar).

You've got to see the wall for yourself to decide how safe it is, but it does sound as though it is built like a veritable stone outhouse (I cleaned that up).

Probably better to repair it in stages though, and not knock more loose masonry out to do the whole lot in one go.

 

[worms]

An interesting question. I have replaced a couple of very small patches where the inner skin of the rubble stone wall has been "missing" (cowboy builders existed 60 years ago too!). My assumption (perhaps wrongly) was that the mortar should not actually be doing anything structural - the stones should be fitting well enough (like a dry-stone wall) that they should stay up and do their structural work, at least for long enough for the mortar to harden.

 

[Nemesis]

I'd not do too much at once if it means a great deal of weight on the mortar, but see how it goes - if it looks like the stuff is being forced through the joints, leave it for a day or two. Take it a few courses a day.

 

[chuckey]

1/2 meter high? it all depends on the wetness of the mix and the weather and the thickness/porosity of the stone. I personaly would have no qualms about some thing as low as this. Sound like one bucket of mix, mix it up, have a coffee, pour of any excess water and go, just don't vibrate the new section too much when putting your higher courses on.
Frank