My last trip up the scaffolding actually took place almost two weeks ago. It was Friday, July 28 in the mid-morning hours when our little band played tarzan and conducted the inspection. Results:
Repairs to the deteriorating brick work on the outside of the east-facing tower have been completed. Where there were once a bunch of holes, weakly held together bricks and almost certain disaster, there is now a much stronger structure. Bravo to those who once were truly shaken by the prospects that mortar-turned-to-sand might conjure.
Since the original proposition for the outer mortar colour did not meet with approval, two other samples were sent from the factory. By the time this meeting took place, both colours had been applied in small patches and had been given a few days to cure. This allowed us to agree on the mortar colour which will now be applied to all exterior sections currently being treated.
Did you know that the inner mortar colour is different from the outer? It appears that when the towers were constructed (or perhaps at some later date, although no one seems to be able to confirm this), the original mortar used on the inner wythes and unseen portions of the towers was very dark indeed (almost black), while the outer, more visible mortar is a lighter tint.
Repointing of the inner sections of the two towers was complete at the time of this inspection. Good thing, for the steel reinforcements arrived this week. More on that in a later post.
Masonry repairs to the outer sections of the west-tower will continue while the steel is being installed in the east tower. This may be as extensive as the work that had to be completed on the east-tower, but we won't know until the work begins in earnest. I'm sure there will be more details to be recounted in the coming days.
Repairs to the deteriorating brick work on the outside of the east-facing tower have been completed. Where there were once a bunch of holes, weakly held together bricks and almost certain disaster, there is now a much stronger structure. Bravo to those who once were truly shaken by the prospects that mortar-turned-to-sand might conjure.
Since the original proposition for the outer mortar colour did not meet with approval, two other samples were sent from the factory. By the time this meeting took place, both colours had been applied in small patches and had been given a few days to cure. This allowed us to agree on the mortar colour which will now be applied to all exterior sections currently being treated.
Did you know that the inner mortar colour is different from the outer? It appears that when the towers were constructed (or perhaps at some later date, although no one seems to be able to confirm this), the original mortar used on the inner wythes and unseen portions of the towers was very dark indeed (almost black), while the outer, more visible mortar is a lighter tint.
Repointing of the inner sections of the two towers was complete at the time of this inspection. Good thing, for the steel reinforcements arrived this week. More on that in a later post.
Masonry repairs to the outer sections of the west-tower will continue while the steel is being installed in the east tower. This may be as extensive as the work that had to be completed on the east-tower, but we won't know until the work begins in earnest. I'm sure there will be more details to be recounted in the coming days.
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