sealing cracks in cement verge

[malcolm]

The roofers splashed a very wet mix of cement into the roof verge on top of a cement undercloak they didn't bother to wet first. Being roofers they didn't seem to know much about roofing and there is now a crack between the cement and the undercloak and vertical cracks where they pushed cement past the battens which will rot the battens.

I could ask them back but doubt they will have figured out how to roof and don't want more botching.

It should have stabilised a little. Any ideas on sealers I could use to fill the cracks to prolong the life until later? I'm thinking about pressing some lime mortar or even cement mixed with soft sand as it should get into the gaps but feel I ought to match the dark grey of the cement and don't have a pigment other than black linseed paint.

It is possible to mix linseed with limewash to create an emulsion so using materials to hand does it seem sensible to colour repair mortar?

 

[Zebra]

A shame about the cement touching the battens. I don't see anything you can do about that now unfortunately. As for the gap between the undercloak and the cement - I don't know if it's really necessary to fill that gap - the cloak goes over the felt/membrane doesn't it? Does it? I might be wrong... If it is advisable to fill it, how about some :shock: silicone sealant?!!

 

[malcolm]

I might as well fill the gap while the scaffold is up. lime is probably a better match of materials and probably more workable. I can get hold of some carbon for tint if crushing BBQ charcoal isn't effective.

 

[livias]

Black cement colourant from the builders merchsnt is cheap and handy to have in the copboard

 

[formerly known as]

why don't you redo it properly whilst scaffold is up?

 

[malcolm]

I want to embrace modern aesthetics.

The verges haven't been done properly but I reckon a bit of lime rich gap filler should improve them enough. It would end up being a couple of weeks work to do them properly together with tile and slate replacement where the cement has stuck, and I'm out of time.

I picked up some cement colouring today. Thanks for the tip.