Thanks to ppuk respondents - feeling less - & more +

[L1zzy]

Thanks to all you guys who replied to my distressed questions - I feel positive again and have made decisions:

Will repair concrete rendered boundary wall and repaint in exterior paint - wait and see what changes once the foundations to the yard have been dug up and allow breathing.

Will repair patches to front wall of house with Lime Mortar including round the cills.

Not sure about the lintel yet tho' need to do the edges in lime mortar but still not sure about the knot hole thats now just a hole - but take the point that the lintel itself is probably still strong enough to hold up the wall above the window frame.

Thankyou again chaps

 

[NT]

Mastic will stop the water getting in the knot hole.

NT

 

[NT]

or exterior grade wood filler

 

[RobT]

Hi Lizzy,

I'm no expert in traditional mastics, but I've seen one of two posts by Biff Vernon who talks of using lime, a fine sand and linseed oil.

It may be worth sending an email to Biff for further advice via the memberlist section of the forum.

On the knot front I would simply insert a similar piece of timber/stone into the hole. It should be bedded into some lime mortar and then pointed with the same mixture.

Finally give the lintel a layer of limewash which can be rubbed with a stiff brush once dried. The lime will protect the knotted area and infill the exposed grain of the wood.

regards