A
Anonymous
Guest
Dear All
What to do? One of my near neighbours has a man in attacking the pointing with a slate hammer. He's stripped the whole lot out to day (it's a mid terrace so not that big).
Out of curiosity I went and quizzed him on the mix he intended to use. He seemed a bit vague, but then said 1:2:8. I asked why he intended to put cement in it at all. His answer was "you've got to have some cement in it". I said that wasn't true and you didn't need cement. To which I got the standard answer whilst his hackles rose, "I've been doing this for 46 years, and yes you need some cement in it!".
I could have decked him. Why do people think just because they've been doing something for years that it has to be right?
But, what should I do? These cottages are Grade II listed. The cottage on the other side of this one has asked him today if he could do theirs too!! For a start, it didn't all need removing, some repairs were necessary, but that's all. I doubt if the owner of the current project has applied for listed building consent. The others won't either. They neither of them seem to understand much about their homes. I had already offered to show the other people how to do their repairs properly themselves next year.
So, should I put up and shut up and try to turn a blind eye, or should I approach anyone and if so, who? I suspect it's too late for the current one, he'll be slapping the mortar in on Monday if not tomorrow, but what about the next house? He told me that the owner he's working for had a quote from someone who would do it in 1.5 days!!! God forbid. He at least intends to take 2 or 3 days, which he thought made him the expert. I quizzed him a bit more by backing off the cement element and discovered that he thinks it's wrong to have large pieces of aggregate in the mix as well.
I'm upset that people don't do as they should when they buy these houses. But I don't really know what to do. Any ideas?
Sue
What to do? One of my near neighbours has a man in attacking the pointing with a slate hammer. He's stripped the whole lot out to day (it's a mid terrace so not that big).
Out of curiosity I went and quizzed him on the mix he intended to use. He seemed a bit vague, but then said 1:2:8. I asked why he intended to put cement in it at all. His answer was "you've got to have some cement in it". I said that wasn't true and you didn't need cement. To which I got the standard answer whilst his hackles rose, "I've been doing this for 46 years, and yes you need some cement in it!".
I could have decked him. Why do people think just because they've been doing something for years that it has to be right?
But, what should I do? These cottages are Grade II listed. The cottage on the other side of this one has asked him today if he could do theirs too!! For a start, it didn't all need removing, some repairs were necessary, but that's all. I doubt if the owner of the current project has applied for listed building consent. The others won't either. They neither of them seem to understand much about their homes. I had already offered to show the other people how to do their repairs properly themselves next year.
So, should I put up and shut up and try to turn a blind eye, or should I approach anyone and if so, who? I suspect it's too late for the current one, he'll be slapping the mortar in on Monday if not tomorrow, but what about the next house? He told me that the owner he's working for had a quote from someone who would do it in 1.5 days!!! God forbid. He at least intends to take 2 or 3 days, which he thought made him the expert. I quizzed him a bit more by backing off the cement element and discovered that he thinks it's wrong to have large pieces of aggregate in the mix as well.
I'm upset that people don't do as they should when they buy these houses. But I don't really know what to do. Any ideas?
Sue