Pointing with a lime mix

[DunstableDIYer]

New to the forum

I am re-pointing the house with a sand, cement and lime mix (6:1:1) and an area I did 3 weeks crumbles very easily when I run a pointing trowel across it
Other areas done at different times previously with exactly the same ratios are rock hard
What could have caused this as I now need to scrape this area out and re-do and do not want this to happen again

Thanks

 

[r896neo]

Possibly too dry when you did it that time?? I mean bricks and air rather than your mix.

Did you buy the cement for this patch at the same time as the other stuff?

Just guesses though.

 

[DunstableDIYer]

It was quite hot that day so that may be why

Didn't buy the cement at the same time but it is the same brand, etc...
If it is too hot should I not do it at all or can I wet the surface after 30 mins or so to keep it moist?

Thanks

 

[amwc]

Wet the wall down well prior to pointing. Use a fairly moist mix and finish the job before its gone off too far. Are the joints really shallow? they should be 15mm min.

 

[r896neo]

if you wet the face of the wall you will get more staining on the brick faces so best to either just wet the joints or wet the lot and wait for the face to dry out a bit .