In a message dated 6/23/2004 5:42:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

> Oh Yea thanks for the roof ideas now Im looking for a source for that grass looking thatch that they put on all the Tiki 
> bars 

Mr. Pyrate and other Elbow bendings &/or Masonical Types:

In regard to the matter of the thatch in Tiki bars, I think your only option is to do field research in Tiki bars.  If you need help, and can wait til Sept or so, I should be divorced about then. 

Got a question re: efflorescence.  I am looking at a 3 year old bldg (built with a polished-face CMU, that looks almost like terrazzo) with some efflorescence in the (colored) mortar joints; there are two different-colored mortars used with the two different-colored blocks.  My prior experience has left me with the observation that 1) some degree of efflorescence is pretty much unavoidable; 2) some may be incurable, or at least until the lime is all leached out; 3) some may be due to concentrations of lime in mortar which was not adequately mixed/dispersed (why else would it show up in this particular joint and and not 3' away?).  In a few cases, the efflorescence shows up in hairline cracks within the block, which makes me think that in these areas at least, the efflorescence is the result of the setting mortar (assuming the block were grouted solid) rather than the colored pointing mortar.  Given this last bit, is it likely that the efflorescence is a byproduct of the setting mortar which only leaches through the colored pointing mortar?

As to iron spots, there are many of these ground-faced block that have developed rust spots, much more concentrated and dense in some cases than if nails had been left in the mortar joints by sloppy masons.  My inclination is to think that some sort of iron chunks (in varying sizes) found their way into the aggregate (these are reddish, nearly brick-colored block)from which the block were made.  A less-likely scenario is that whatever polishing wheel was used on the block disintegrated and shed little bits of steel, but some of these spots (nearly an inch wide, several inches long) are so big and so bad that the rust had to have started from a chunk rather than a filing. How is it that iron-spot brick don't develop rust stains, or are the iron spots made from such teensy-weensy little filings that there's nothing of any consequence to rust; or does the firing process trap the filings behind the surface? 

Thanking you in advance, I remain, very truly etc.

Ralph