mayenne_man

I am looking to find a supplier for decorative bark chippings in the Mayenne/Orne area.  Local DIY stores and garden centres do have some but it is in very small bags and consequently very expensive.  Does anyone know where it can be bought in larger bags (e.g. 150litres) or ideally by the cubic metre?   Thanks.

Hi Big Mac   Thanks for the additional info.  We do occasionally visit Laval but we are on the extreme NE of Mayenne (in fact the field opposite us is in Orne) and so Alencon is not too far.   Rgds.

Thanks for the tip.  There is a Point P near me in Alencon and so I'll see if they can help.

Thanks Callie and I think you're right - trial and error.  I think I'll try the ocre idea as I'm told they sell it in Big Mat.   Rgds.

Hi Teapot,   Yes, I've had a go with a wire brush.  The 1:5 mix just about crumbled away and so I've concluded that it wasn't not strong enough.  The 1:3 mix looked exactly the same after the wire brushing...   Thanks.

I have a stone house in Mayenne where the majority of the house was re-pointed when it was renovated in 2005.  The survey I had on the house indicates that it was re-pointed with a lime mix and as there are a number of small patches that need doing, inside and out, I have been trying to create a mix to blend in. The pointing is not a single shade but is generally a sand/buff colour.  Here's the problem.  I bought a bag of hydraulic lime and have two sorts of sand.  One, quite a dark brown/yellow and one a much lighter colour left by the original builder.  However, whichever one I use, the mortar always seems to dry into a pale grey colour which is not what I'm after. I'm aware that there are dyes on the market for mortar but somehow I cannot see the original macon going to all that trouble.  I am mixing my sand 3 parts to 1 part lime.  I have tried 1:2 and 1:5 but I still end up with a creamy grey colour.  Am I doing something obviously wrong or does anyone have any pearls of wisdom? I should probably qualify myself by saying that my building knowledge is virtually zero! Thanks.