Farmhouse Restoration | Pointing Stone Walls 

Man repoints a French house, cue bucket loads of comments from people who have never held a trowel, made a lime mortar mix or understand the word 'vernacular'. This is a perfectly reasonable demonstration of how you do this by hand. The French have automated some of this effort these days (certainly for bigger jobs) with a pneumatic/mechanical system that chucks/sprays the mortar on the wall for you and if you were to get a contractor to do this for you then likely that's the kit they would turn up with to do the job. The way they do it is coat the wall getting in all the crevices, then come along afterwards and scrape/pressure wash off the excess to reveal the stone. The type of finish you get and can aim for is dependent on the stone that makes up the wall. If your stones are all nice regular and sizeable, then you can go for the 'every stone is picked out' approach. When you have a really random wall like this was, with a lot of smaller stones in it, then this part-rendered look that you end up with is absolutely typical and very definitely vernacular for a lot of rural France. Trying to reveal every little stone is BS (I've tried it and it looks shit). I have a gable-end wall on what was a small stable that I'm converting into a workshop right now. It was probably last pointed 40/50 years ago and the weathered-out cracks show loads of small pieces of tile used as packers still embedded in the remaining mortar. This is also absolutely typical. Having said that, I'd agree that old stone walls that have had all their original mortar weathered out of them are a thing of beauty in their own right. Whenever I'm stood in front of a wall that I'm about to point up I always wish I could leave it looking the same, but put it back into a structurally sound and weatherproof state. Just not possible. Good job buddy!

Full flush weather pointing. A vernacular style here in the Scottish highlands and coastal areas. It offers the best protection and flattest surface for water run off. We would scratch it back with a trowel not a wire brush and then beat the mortar with a stuff brush to compact and offset any shrinkage. Nice job.

Nice to see youngsters performing an old craft. And being good at it.

Great results again. Done to resemble how they would have done it 300 years ago. Rustic and beautiful.

I worked in Southampton marina many years ago as a diver. We repaired the dock wall the same way except we were under water. Love your videos and the inspiration they provide ... keep them coming.

Just happened upon your channel and the work you and your father do is truly beautiful! The patience you have to honor the home’s history, and restore it as close to the original as possible is amazing. Thank you for sharing these projects! Also love, that you were learning everything through your father who was in construction wow.

That is a labor of love and patience. It’s beautiful.

Your construction work and video editing work are both outstanding. Thank you for sharing.

Years ago I was a mudboy for a stonemason that takes a lot of work thanks for putting your videos on here I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Please put more videos, I love watching these things.They will be future reference videos to many people.

The right mindset and a good feeling for the materials makes for a great outcome. Chapeau.

Time and talent saves history. Thank you for sharing.

Thumbs up for using limebased morfar. It tills me you are well aware that cementbased morfar in concrete world destroy the walls In the Long run. Well Done!

Oglądam kolejny odcinek i jestem pod wrażeniem dbania o szczegół, dążenia do zachowania szczegółów budynku.Gratuluje i pozdrawiam.

Sehr Gute Arbeit und geniest die gemeinsame Zeit! Ich habe damals mit meinem Vater auch unseren "erst 200 Jahre" Alten Bauernhof in Bayern Restauriert. Wir haben nie wieder so viel Zeit miteinander Verbracht. Drei Jahre später Starb er leider viel zu Früh😥.

Love those colours. The yellows of the wall with the green shutters and terracotta roof.

I love the Amstel beer cases. Greetings from the Netherlands.

You are the salt of the earth, for sure. What a skill set.

There will be pockets of air if you smear the mortar between the stones. You better throw it with some force on the wall, so it will fill all the gaps, and then smooth it evenly. It is also possible to mix the lime with water to a consistence similar to buttermilk and spritz it on with a big brush first, then let it set for some hours so it can help bond the mortar to the surface.

I get addicted to your videos. This work looks great again. It also reminds me of when I (as an office worker) offered to help a friend do the same thing by saying, yeah, it’ll be two days… but it took a lot more… and I didn’t have the cases of beer;) and I now love the way you make your videos, everything is there. And the “blue nail” in the corner made me laugh. Thanks again to you both for those vids.

Merci pour le partage. Beau boulot, je faisais ça avec mon père qui était maçon. Ca me rappelle ma jeunesse. Keep up the good work. 🤘👍

Tedious work that! Worth the effort.

Beautifully done. That corner!! 🥳🥰

It provides a beautiful finish that compliments the colour of the stonework 😁👌👌👌👏👏👏❤️❤️

You should be very proud, such great work!

Greeting from USA. Looks awsome I found the channel the other day and have been watching non stop. I should be working on our house we are building. You do Awsome work!! Would love to restore a place like that!!!! Keep it up looks great I love when people restore older homes and buildings so much history is wasted when left to rot!!!

This is the type of real work I love to watch. Art work in itself really! ❤️❤️❤️

Lovely work....brilliant effect! Last another century.

Wonderful job! The gorgeous light aqua paint on the old wood shutters looks so nice against the 'blond' colored mortar & stone! I hope you decide to keep them that color.

Very nicely done!! Looks beautiful.

Reminds me of all of the villages filled with the "se vende" houses along the Camino. Wonderful to see one being restored!

Still noticing, you all work very neatly. It's nice to see.

That looks amazing, great work!

LOOKS FANTASTIC ...thankyou from Queensland

great video!! can't wait to get started on my own project!! cheers for sharing!!

에고 꼼꼼하게 잘하네. Two Thumbs Up from Korea !!!👍👍

Um excelente trabalho de criatividade, sem dúvida um excelente conteudo, excelentes dicas parabéns e muito sucesso

Beautiful work ! Thank you

Amazing place & great repair work KUDOS to you & Father !!!

Beautiful job!

Before was beautiful!!

This is unbelievable to watch. I love it totally.

How to describe what you have achieved, one word Amazing

I am glad this came up on my suggested videos. I need to do this on my foundation. Thanks!

Looks great. Nice job.

BRAVO. Insane job.

Have wonderful and prosperous New Year. I hope 2020 is great for you.

Man, that is good work!

That was so relaxing!!😊❤❤❤ thank you for not putting back ground music on.

Really great job! I learnt some new tricks... many thanks

The result looks amazing! And it is exactly how I wanted to do to my stone fireplace! Thank you so much

great work ! young Master ,

Awesome work!

Amazing job 👏👏👏

Carl, I am amazed at what you are doing! Wow...just wow. I'm new to your channel, and did subscribe. But I have a question: Are there any videos of the farmhouse renovation as well? I've been scrolling and watching so many of the barn, and loved the Range Rover clutch repair. But I can't find any videos of the interior of the actual farmhouse remodel yet. Would love to see what it was to what it has become. Thanks, and Cheers!

Stuccoing my foundation after I had it insulated a few years ago was an absolute nightmare so I can only imagine how difficult this must be!

I would like it that stones remained more visible, not almost all covered but those are choices.. Good job anyway thanks from Italy

Well done !

Nice pointing job there fella. I have a bug will to do in the near future

bien fait, well done, gut gemacht!

Fantastic job

Well done ,a very good job respect!!♥️👍🌎💥

good work, in every detail

Hey Carl, raki g out the old loose stones and mortar is loads faster when you use compressed air at 110 PSI or slightly higher. Saves a shitload of work and time you can use for the actual plastering....

Looks great... Cheers!

Way to rock that Boston Red Sox cap....

what a beauty!!!

Throwing the mortar from the trowel to the wall gives better adhesion and is quicker. You'll see French Artisans doing it that way. I don't know if you did it, but leaving a bucket or two of render in the mixer for when you make the next mix helps to even out any potential colour difference.

greetings from Argentina!!!

Interesting video. I'm in the same line of work in my country (Malta) but I'd use different methods. We use a grouting bag to fill the big voids in between stones. Much faster and gets the mortar further inside. Also we use a nylon brush and wetted sponge to finish and clean the surface. Wire brushes are not allowed as they scratch and leave iron particles behind. Another thing I want to point out is that using metal screws as used in the video is bad practice. This is because metal is affected by temperature fluctuations much more than stone/lime and causes cracks, even if its stainless steel and won't rust. Instead we use glass fibre dowels held in place by a suitable adhesive. As for the people saying that he should have left more stone exposed: it wasn't really a choice as he had to match the style that was already there.

dont "smear" the mortar, but slap it on with speed for better bonding and keep it from drying out too quickly. cement (and concrete) hardens by crystallizing which takes time and humidity.

If I was 30 years younger I would be there helping out.

Mate just out of curiosity how old are you? The work you're doing is bloody fantastic!! Just found the channel and watched the whole roof restore, subbed right after Edit: also are you trade qualified or just pretty handy and learning from the old man? Loads of questions I know but you are literally living my dream just curious as to how you went about getting there!!

Parabéns! Bom trabalho.

Super job

Очень красивый дом !

Quality as usual. As good as I've seen in France.

Neat job!!

Nice job look awsome👍👍👍👏👏👏

Bloody hell, it really takes all kinds (in a good way !!) 😂

oh so hardworking bro

Abonnoment & 🔔 & 👍 Right, no cement mortar on old walls! Vous avez une belle maison et propriété!

I love SW France. Magnificent scenery and beautiful buildings. Added to this, they grow the best wine in the world. What's not to like? Excellent vid.

I added an earlier comment about liking the before however I realized I the videos was about it works for how to do what you did but just cuz I liked it better with a patina looking doesn't mean matter cuz what I like doesn't equate to its every one's preference with that said great job on the workand video I found myself watching it times and end up liking the after. liking and subbing now

Nice job

Please be carefull you doesn't use the good lime. "renocal" contain Portland cement Use cl90 lime. when walls are every day in contact with a lot water you can use nhl2. But as you need breathable ancient wall use cl90 for rejointing and coating, this is the best... ( breathable, color, patination).

Muy buen trabajo. Saludos desde Pozoblanco.

looks great.. and it looks SO beautiful there.. I want to move to that area, it looks so peaceful. is it.?

Did you soak the tiles in water before adding them into the wall? It seems as though I heard a long time ago that if they were not wet prior, then they would soak up the water from the cement mixture, causing premature failure of the cement. NOTE: I am not familiar with brick laying or masonry work. However, I would like to know if this is true, in case I ever need to do work like that. Perhaps, different clients require adjustments.; I live in Texas, and I think you are someplace in Great Britain.

Thanks you for this. I'm doing the exact same thing 😅

真不错，活儿做的真细！

Excellent

Great work as usual thank you

Good work,guys!! Hi from Russia!!

Just out of curiosity -- what type of stone was used for the walls -- sandstone, limestone, granite? Your use of lime cement is perfect for walls with porous material -- untold damage has been done by well-meaning restorers using impermeable cement to repoint porous brick walls in victorian constructions. Glad to see restoration taken on by someone who is willing to let the house function as it was meant to do.

Bonjour , je regarde quelques une de vos vidéo même si je ne comprends pas l'anglais c'est un plaisir de vous voir faire. Et de ce fait je me permets de vous dire que votre façade et très bien fait , MAIS dans votre maison dans l'ancien crépit qui était a la chaux, il y a certainement du sels hygroscopique qui sont très destructeur , comme vous avez fais un crépit au ciment ,vous avez bloqué l'échange gazeux car contrairement a la chaux le ciment est étanche. les sels( si il y en a) était a peu près a 1,20 m de haut , maintenant avec votre crépi au ciment les sels vont migrer plus haut et causé des dégats faites attention et prenez toujours les sels en compte peu de gens le savent. j'ai appris cela avec sur le site métriconsult qui parle de ces sels , par contre ne vous découragé pas, votre travail et formidable bonne continuation Cordialement Denis

Whatto Carl, good to catch up on your videos, I got locked out of my account for some time lol. I was wondering how you will finish up the wall at ground level, will it be a thick layer of limecrete resembling interior skirting board or something different?

Que bonito trabajo

Very nice

You could point all of it but I find when doing large areas just take a handful and smack it on the wall and wipe it around then take off the excess