Cracking in fresh pointing (Ed.)

[Stan0511]

Currently having our terraced Victorian property repointed in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The freshly placed pointwork is already showing signs of cracking. The guys doing it say they’re doing everything they can to stop this but hampered by the weather and its drying too quick. How serious an issue is this / what can be done to stop it from happening. They’re saying can’t do anything. Thanks for any replies

 

[Wayners]

Don't point when its a heatwave. Unfortunately that's the nature of the trade like many others

 

[stuart45]

Is that a strong cement mortar, rather than a lime mortar?

 

[JohnD]

To judge by the colour it is cement mortar. It does not harden properly if it dries too fast. Once it has dried you cannot harden it. Cement does not harden by drying, but by a chemical reaction between water and the particles, which takes time and must not be interrupted.

Things you can do:

Point the walls after the sun has gone off them, not before. Noonday sun is worst.

Mist the walls with water before starting work

Put a cover over new work to shade it

The day after pointing, when the mortar has stiffened and will not wash out, mist the walls and keep them damp for a week if you can.

After the first day, you can be quite carefree with your hose, the mortar will be hard enough.

Cloudy, misty weather with persistent drizzle is best for new cement, after the first day.

In Southern France, roadmakers do not lay concrete until after midday in summer. It will be hard enough to water the next morning.

 

[noseall]

I can't tell from those images. Any chance of a close-up?