paolo82

  • Posts: 46
cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« on: April 07, 2014, 07:02:33 pm »
How do you guys avoid getting cracks in mortar joints after pressure washing patios, most slabs I clean always show signs of damage to mortar. Is it best to use fan nozzle instead of a turbo or more detergents.

Blast Away

Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2014, 08:45:49 pm »
Always inspect joints and tell them there will be mortar/pointing coming loose as it's already failed. Take images before for evidence. If there's weeds coming through the pointing, the weeds have already more than likely cracked them.
Always ask when it was last pointed and if they have done it their self.

We did an indian stone patio today in Rufford, West Lancs. Turned up and looked at the joints. All patchy with different looking mixes. Questioned customer, he said he put some geofix in the joints himself last year. So I told him therefore it's gonna come loose. It did in many places 'cos all he had done is smear over the original pointing.

Sent images to Lee Kenny for a price to rake out and repoint. No reply yet, mustn't want the work! ;-)

Kenny83

  • Posts: 1131
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2014, 10:37:50 pm »
Always inspect joints and tell them there will be mortar/pointing coming loose as it's already failed. Take images before for evidence. If there's weeds coming through the pointing, the weeds have already more than likely cracked them.
Always ask when it was last pointed and if they have done it their self.

We did an indian stone patio today in Rufford, West Lancs. Turned up and looked at the joints. All patchy with different looking mixes. Questioned customer, he said he put some geofix in the joints himself last year. So I told him therefore it's gonna come loose. It did in many places 'cos all he had done is smear over the original pointing.

Sent images to Lee Kenny for a price to rake out and repoint. No reply yet, mustn't want the work! ;-)

;) I'll text you now Lee
Pressure Washing -
www.powerwashcleaning.co.uk

JSMC

  • Posts: 3511
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2014, 11:36:16 pm »
do any of you have T&C's for this type of thing and have customer sign n date it.

paolo82

  • Posts: 46
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2014, 08:04:00 pm »
Thanks,   I always tell customers that cracks will appear after pressure washing but then  i also say that cracks are already there but covered by the dirt.      So basically its something which you can't avoid if your using high pressure                                                                                           




Carl@Cwc

  • Posts: 1060
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2014, 09:20:26 pm »
You see problems,  I see opportunities!



hi simon
all good now on the hypo/amine front ,  big thank you from me BTW.
i get quite a few repoint requests, are you manually repointing or using a brush in compound?
i can manually repoint no problem as worked as bricklayer/ ground worker for a good while.
i ask as a time thing, don't know where to start on pricing these.
for instance been asked to clean and repoint a 25 sq mt patio= 20/30mm joints all blown out and missing ?
where would you start pricing something like this?

Simon@Pristine Pathways

  • Posts: 397
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2014, 11:08:38 pm »
Hi Carl pointing does not pay as well as pressure washing! Customers will pay £250 for 2 hours cleaning but start moaning when you try and get £150 for 4 hours pointing!
 What ever you charge is wrong. I just give them a total price of £400 but sell it on the fact the pointing will last for years and tell them if we clean it every year the pointing is guaranteed.
We are allways guaranteed to get a yearly clean off them and once I point it aint going to need to be done again.
I tend to do a couple of jobs in a day just do one mix between 2 jobs, sun, radio and knee pads fridays are the best day because I cant get up the next day!
Simon

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2014, 07:42:22 pm »
Hi Carl pointing does not pay as well as pressure washing! Customers will pay £250 for 2 hours cleaning but start moaning when you try and get £150 for 4 hours pointing!
 What ever you charge is wrong. I just give them a total price of £400 but sell it on the fact the pointing will last for years and tell them if we clean it every year the pointing is guaranteed.
We are allways guaranteed to get a yearly clean off them and once I point it aint going to need to be done again.
I tend to do a couple of jobs in a day just do one mix between 2 jobs, sun, radio and knee pads fridays are the best day because I cant get up the next day!
Simon
£125 per hour ...I'm lucky if i get £12.50 per hour.
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

BDCS

  • Posts: 4777
Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2014, 09:10:03 pm »
Pay peanuts get monkeys  ;)

Blast Away

Re: cracks in mortar after cleaning slabs.
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2014, 10:43:46 pm »
 ;D