What would you expect to pay a tradesman for...

[Alan Medic]

...repointing a not very large area of wall? I was quoted ?420 if the guy had to come back and finish it on a second day and ?340 if he finished it in a day. This includes cost of materials and removal of rubbish (?) plus using some type of expensive waterproofing liquid in the mixture.

Unfortunately our property is leasehold and this guy is the freeholders person of choice for anything that needs to be done. I suspect (as with the roof a while back) that he ups the price for their benefit so I end up paying a greater percentage of the actual cost than I'm technically obliged to.

[LondonMix]

How large a portion of wall in sqm or sqft? Without that its impossible to say.

[Jeremy]

If he can't give you a quote for the job ("an extra ?80 if it takes me longer"? Seriously?) I'd avoid.

I'd expect to pay maybe ?200-?250 a day for labour. Materials shouldn't be expensive for repointing a wall.

If this waterproofing additive is his excuse, maybe ask him to leave it out?

[red devil]

Some examples of London rates, I'd expect to pay around ?75 - ?100m2. As it's a small job, i.e. economies of scale, probably near the top end...http://www.whatprice.co.uk/prices/building/repointing.html

Mortar for traditional brickwork should let any water that gets into the brickwork, escape back out. Adding a waterproof additive will stop that happening, the water can only go one way...inside

[Seabag]

It's probably Feb-mix, I was a hod carrier and a builders labourer once (they were the days-Ha!)

It's a plasticiser that helps the mortar handle better

It's not the cheapest quote, but then what is ?

[red devil]

Seabag Wrote:

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> It's a plasticiser that helps the mortar handle

> better

Fairy Liquid ;-)...

[Salsaboy]

Or PVA glue.

red devil Wrote:

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> Seabag Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > It's a plasticiser that helps the mortar handle

> > better

>

> Fairy Liquid ;-)...