Message text written by "BP - \"Is this the list with all the ivy
haters?\""
>The installed actually did a fair job of
tooling the patch. However, the color is so far off that it would have been
better to leave the break had it not been for liability concerns. The patch
color is several shades lighter.<

As a matter of course, it is always preferable that the patches be a little
darker. This makes them less obtrusive. Of course, there could be any
number of causes for patches being too light, assuming the right color was
selected in the first place. Low temperature, early rain, efflorescence are
a few obvious ones.

>Several patches have started to show separation from the stone.<

This could be serious if it is an indication of adhesive failure. If the
patch is well-adhered but shows perimeter cracking, it's probably due to
excessive shrinkage and may be reparable, unless the patches weren't kept
wet long enough.

> One patch on
a door sill has turned into oatmeal and can be dug out with a fingernail.<

If the patch wasn't wet-cured properly, as patches lacking the benefit of a
good latex modifier require, it may never have come up to strength, and
could basically be a very crumbly, dusty material. Add water, wait 5
minutes, work fingernails into the surface vigorously and VOILA! --
Oatmeal!

>The installer insists that the patch was supposed to be coated over to
match
the stone. I have always thought that it would be preferable to try and get
a reasonable tonal match in the base patch, especially for a surface that
will see a lot of foot traffic.<

I have seen this call made differently by different specifiers, but I think
the guys who are really thinking call for the patches to match even if they
will be painted and even if they are on walls, i.e. with no traffic. The
sense of it is that if you are working to restore a neglected building, the
safest assumption is that it will be neglected in the future again. When
the coating weathers or wears away - -even if that  may not be for 30 years
or more, but someday -- and the patches are exposed, how bad do you want
the building to look? At least if the patches match, the aesthetics won't
become disastrous.

Mike E.