Has my neighbour been duped?

[dishman]

My neighbour....while getting some landscaping done, decided to let the same company high pressure jet wash the brickwork on the whole property (1930s brick) to clean them They have also, after the pressure wash, decided to chop out all the old mortar using a circular cutting disk. A close look shows they have not been entirely accurate with the disc cutting, catching the bricks in various places(nicking and cutting the edges of some bricks). I presume they will re-point...hopefully with the appropriate strength mortar.

Is this a standard/accepted way of doing the job....or does it smell like a cowboy operation?

I have heard nightmare stories of pressure washing in the past and tried to subtly tell them to be careful.....but to no avail.

Thoughts welcome...

 

[HERTS P&D]

Pictures?

Andy

 

[Newboy]

or does it smell like a cowboy operation?

Short answer - yes.

Is your neighbour elderly?
How is the work being paid for?
Is the 'company' doing the work traceable?

Landscaping turns into pressure washing turns into re-pointing!

 

[^woody^]

Walls can be jet washed, and pointing can be cut out with a disc saw. So yes, it's standard and accepted.

 

[stuart45]

It depends on whether your neighbour asked them to do the job or was talked into it. It also depends on the type of brickwork and mortar as to what is the appropriate cleaning method. In many cases the brickwork is better to be left alone.

 

[Newboy]

Walls can be jet washed, and pointing can be cut out with a disc saw. So yes, it's standard and accepted.

When done competently and not as a part of a landscaping job

 

[^woody^]

When done competently and not as a part of a landscaping job

Bricklayers can do landscaping jobs.

 

[Newboy]

Bricklayers can do landscaping jobs.

But can landscapers do bricklaying jobs?

 

[stuart45]

Bricklayers can do landscaping jobs.

Quite right woody, here's one of mine.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=b...QsAQIIg&biw=1366&bih=662#imgrc=OzOOuSXP2NlJnM:

 

[Newboy]

That look more like a chippie doing a landscaping job

 

[^woody^]

I'm liking your use of colour and texture. Do you have a card?

 

[dishman]

I'll take a picture.....when no one is looking.....

There is nothing I can really do.....and I am not getting involved....they are not elderly so it is not a situation like that. It was more for my own curiosity.

The brickwork looks to have now lost it's hard glaze outer layer now. It now has a matt look. There bricks were not in a mess, they just had a nice age/weathered look to them. Weather they asked for it or it was sold to them....I have no idea.


If they are doing a decent job then that is fine. I just like to know out of curiousity if it is a good job and the appropriate method of doing it.

 

[Newboy]

use of colour and texture. Do you have a card?

No - but I've got a mood board

 

[Newboy]

I'll take a picture.....when no one is looking.....

There is nothing I can really do.....and I am not getting involved....they are not elderly so it is not a situation like that. It was more for my own curiosity.

The brickwork looks to have now lost it's hard glaze outer layer now. It now has a matt look. There bricks were not in a mess, they just had a nice age/weathered look to them. Weather they asked for it or it was sold to them....I have no idea.


If they are doing a decent job then that is fine. I just like to know out of curiousity if it is a good job and the appropriate method of doing it.

I'd get really suspicious when the tarmac/block paving gang turn up!

 

[dishman]

I'd get really suspicious when the tarmac/block paving gang turn up!

erm......that is what I ment by.....landscaping......