Hi,
Thanks Lawrence; our neighbours are a very mixed bag indeed ranging from excellent to dire.
Once the milder weather arrives I never hang around but get cracking on all the exterior jobs. At the bottom of the path to the bungalow side there were two loose flags which needed attention. I laid the entire path 11 years ago so it's done very well although I did bed the flags in mortar. At the bottom it is quite hollow under the flags as this forms a soak-way for the rainwater run off from the front of the bungalow roof. When I installed the path it took a lot of thinking about getting everything just right and managing to perfectly align the flags; it was heavy work as the flags are the full size ones.
The picture shows the channel leading to the soak-way and I had to be extra careful not to contaminate this with mortar. Yesterday I removed both flags then used my new SDS drill in chisel mode to remove the old mortar before cleaning everything ready for re-laying the flags. I bedded the flags again then left them overnight for the mortar to go off.
Loose flags removed.
This morning I mixed a strong mortar adding granite chips then re-pointed the flags leaving them looking very neat. The mortar was allowed to set a little then it was brushed with a hand brush leaving a rough finish which to me looks much better than it being dead smooth and shiny. I then did a second trip to our local tip to once again take the rubbish which I took yesterday only to arrive just as the tip closed at 4pm.
Flags relaid and pointed.
Back home from the tip and I then treated the decking with Wickes Decking Preserver as kindly recommended by Gary; At first I was very alarmed as the deck soaked up the preservative with gusto and I thought I would end up having to buy more cans but I was most surprised as the 5 litres actually did the job to my great relief. As I put all the tools away our Furball inspected the decking and gave it a paws up; bless him; I just hope he doesn't lick his paws for a while.
Furball just after inspecting the decking.
In the sun this afternoon it was nice and warm but the breeze as I treated the decking was cold and it's now become very dull; we've had little rainfall and only a dusting of snow which is most unusual; when it did rain it was timed to annoy the most but I suppose I shouldn't complain because I'm still here to enjoy whatever the weather throws at me. Some day I might even resume work on my two lathes.
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks Lawrence; our neighbours are a very mixed bag indeed ranging from excellent to dire.
Once the milder weather arrives I never hang around but get cracking on all the exterior jobs. At the bottom of the path to the bungalow side there were two loose flags which needed attention. I laid the entire path 11 years ago so it's done very well although I did bed the flags in mortar. At the bottom it is quite hollow under the flags as this forms a soak-way for the rainwater run off from the front of the bungalow roof. When I installed the path it took a lot of thinking about getting everything just right and managing to perfectly align the flags; it was heavy work as the flags are the full size ones.
The picture shows the channel leading to the soak-way and I had to be extra careful not to contaminate this with mortar. Yesterday I removed both flags then used my new SDS drill in chisel mode to remove the old mortar before cleaning everything ready for re-laying the flags. I bedded the flags again then left them overnight for the mortar to go off.
Loose flags removed.
This morning I mixed a strong mortar adding granite chips then re-pointed the flags leaving them looking very neat. The mortar was allowed to set a little then it was brushed with a hand brush leaving a rough finish which to me looks much better than it being dead smooth and shiny. I then did a second trip to our local tip to once again take the rubbish which I took yesterday only to arrive just as the tip closed at 4pm.
Flags relaid and pointed.
Back home from the tip and I then treated the decking with Wickes Decking Preserver as kindly recommended by Gary; At first I was very alarmed as the deck soaked up the preservative with gusto and I thought I would end up having to buy more cans but I was most surprised as the 5 litres actually did the job to my great relief. As I put all the tools away our Furball inspected the decking and gave it a paws up; bless him; I just hope he doesn't lick his paws for a while.
Furball just after inspecting the decking.
In the sun this afternoon it was nice and warm but the breeze as I treated the decking was cold and it's now become very dull; we've had little rainfall and only a dusting of snow which is most unusual; when it did rain it was timed to annoy the most but I suppose I shouldn't complain because I'm still here to enjoy whatever the weather throws at me. Some day I might even resume work on my two lathes.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
