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Rain Has Washed Out My Earthen Mortar!!!


Rich1972

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Hi

I've got a rather derelict single-storey old piggery that I'm trying to renovate. The back wall has partially collapsed, a section about 2 metres wide, but I was planning on rebuilding that. Unfortunately I've since discovered that the tiles all along the back wall have cracked/slipped and for the last decade or so rainwater has been pouring through the rubble-core of the stone wall, to the extent that the wall is still standing (apart from the collapsed section) but has literally no earthen/clay mortar in it whatsoever. It's just the outer facing stones with the rubble interior. You can poke a thin stake from one side all the way through to the other. No mud is to be seen binding the stones together. It's all been washed away. Is it possible to inject the wall with mortar rather than totally rebuilding it? Is repointing by hand even an option given how deep the mortar would have to penetrate? Has anyone had a similar experience? A total rebuild is a) beyond my capability and b) beyond my finances. If the entire 10-metre wall needs to be rebuilt then I think I will have to demolish the structure.

Rich

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[quote user="Rich1972"]Hi

I've got a rather derelict single-storey old piggery that I'm trying to renovate. The back wall has partially collapsed, a section about 2 metres wide, but I was planning on rebuilding that. Unfortunately I've since discovered that the tiles all along the back wall have cracked/slipped and for the last decade or so rainwater has been pouring through the rubble-core of the stone wall, to the extent that the wall is still standing (apart from the collapsed section) but has literally no earthen/clay mortar in it whatsoever. It's just the outer facing stones with the rubble interior. You can poke a thin stake from one side all the way through to the other. No mud is to be seen binding the stones together. It's all been washed away. Is it possible to inject the wall with mortar rather than totally rebuilding it? Is repointing by hand even an option given how deep the mortar would have to penetrate? Has anyone had a similar experience? A total rebuild is a) beyond my capability and b) beyond my finances. If the entire 10-metre wall needs to be rebuilt then I think I will have to demolish the structure.

Rich
[/quote]

Yes ram the same in from either side - it will last another 200 years. Try throwing the mortar at it.

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On smaller scale I've just finished fitting some rustic briquettes around a fireplace and the grouting was done with what was basically a cake icer which allows the grout to be injected deeply into the cavities, something very difficult to achieve with a trowel. A similar approach might be suitable for your wall.

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[quote user="ErnieY"]On smaller scale I've just finished fitting some rustic briquettes around a fireplace and the grouting was done with what was basically a cake icer which allows the grout to be injected deeply into the cavities, something very difficult to achieve with a trowel. A similar approach might be suitable for your wall.

[/quote]

 

I wish I was there to watch.

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[quote user="ErnieY"]On smaller scale I've just finished fitting some rustic briquettes around a fireplace and the grouting was done with what was basically a cake icer which allows the grout to be injected deeply into the cavities, something very difficult to achieve with a trowel. A similar approach might be suitable for your wall.

[/quote]

Was it a standard Leclerc's-style piping bag or a specialist thing you bought from a DIY store?

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i would  stabalise it as best i could by throwing  lime mortor as far in as i could & pointing up the outside as well, you could then try &remove a few stones further up & using a shute , try & pour mortor in from above.you could try using something like a  big dia flexy hose pipe & funnel ie bigger than 30mm & a very sloppy mix.   it'l still set  ok. [quote user="Rich1972"]Hi

I've got a rather derelict single-storey old piggery that I'm trying to renovate. The back wall has partially collapsed, a section about 2 metres wide, but I was planning on rebuilding that. Unfortunately I've since discovered that the tiles all along the back wall have cracked/slipped and for the last decade or so rainwater has been pouring through the rubble-core of the stone wall, to the extent that the wall is still standing (apart from the collapsed section) but has literally no earthen/clay mortar in it whatsoever. It's just the outer facing stones with the rubble interior. You can poke a thin stake from one side all the way through to the other. No mud is to be seen binding the stones together. It's all been washed away. Is it possible to inject the wall with mortar rather than totally rebuilding it? Is repointing by hand even an option given how deep the mortar would have to penetrate? Has anyone had a similar experience? A total rebuild is a) beyond my capability and b) beyond my finances. If the entire 10-metre wall needs to be rebuilt then I think I will have to demolish the structure.

Rich

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How about 'Lacing some rebar around the link stones on the vertical plane  (Some stones every third course or so will be full width if it was a decent wall) then throw well platicised mortar at a few spots to tie it all together once that has gone off start building the outer leaf back and keep packing the inner void with rough mortar. End result will look traditional but will have some internal mechanical support.

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