Michael -

Thanks for the thoughts.  I know about the no-no, especially seeing as
previous owners of the place have done exactly that, and it looks HORRID!

Your suggestion makes sense, so we can work with that after checking to see
if the current stuff is intact or flaking.

- Pam

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 7:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pams house


Hey I liked the drawing it looked like a dance step; so I tried it at home;
the "crack" part was difficult; but I think I got it ..at least the dog
thinks so as he got up and went into the other room.

as for your house problems; I am not sure of all your conditions nor their
discriptions but new Portland mortars in old houses are a big no no ; even
if
they went in 30 years ago as  much of what appears structural can be the
mortar....
.try this simple an inexpensive test
 mix some pure Portland and place it into a crack; then monitor it (Portland
is great for this as it is so hard)
  if it breaks the crack is still moving .if stationary you may repair it
with soft semi hydraulic lime mortar...
. masonry needs to move; we need to give it correct mortar structure to move
in
the "new "addition may be moving independently of the old as one is lighter
and perhaps constructed differently with different materials,
Simply you want everything to move together; soft mortar will allow you to
do
that
Good luck Michael

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To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
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--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>