Water the mortar?

[snowjim]

Hello,

The craftsman made holes and installed new windows in the foundation on Tuesday (5/1), which meant they also had to lay mortar (no stone, it said Finja on the bag).

He said there was a high risk of it cracking but that you can fill it with something like TEC7 if that happens.

As far as I remember, it's important that it doesn't dry too quickly, so I suggested I should mist it with a little water the evening after, which I've now done on the inside.

My question is, should this also be done on the outside despite the freezing temperatures? How often should the mortar be misted?

 

[Eld]

The plaster should be kept moist for three days. The weather is bad for outdoor plastering now... if the plaster freezes before it has set, it will be ruined.

 

[snowjim]

So what you're saying is that what's cast outdoors in minus degrees now will become completely ruined? What happens then? I assume it's not even worth watering it?

At least I can water it in here, the question is just how much, so far I've only gone over it with a shower spray once quickly a day.

 

[Eld]

I don't know how cold it is where you live, but if it freezes, it gets ruined. Then you have to chop away and redo it. What you can do if it's cold is to cover it with plastic and insulation. I would water as often as I can. Every other hour if it dries quickly.

 

[snowjim]

I don't know how cold it is where you live, but if it freezes, it will be ruined. Then you have to chop it off and redo it. What you can do if it's cold is to cover it with plastic and insulation. I would water as often as I could. Every other hour if it dries quickly.

Even outdoors? It's about -2 to -10.

 

[Eld]

If you cover with plastic, you don't need to water. But otherwise, if it's not humid weather, you need to water even outdoors.

 

[Eld]

Expect that at least the surface layer is already damaged outside...

 

[snowjim]

How do I find out if the work needs to be redone? I've been checking and feeling it a bit, and very little of the outer layer fell off, but I think that's normal since it hasn't been polished yet?

 

[Stefan N]

If it has frozen, you can easily scrape it off with a screwdriver.

 

[Eld]

If it's frozen, you can easily scrape it off with a screwdriver.

After it has thawed...

 

[Nils82]

New basement windows installed in a plastered stone/concrete base? Then you plaster and tidy up when the weather allows, not now when it's winter. There's no need to rush

 

[Maveric77]

A little info...

http://www.weber.se/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/fasad/broschyrer/putsning_vintertid.pdf

 

[snowjim]

I have now taken some pictures but also felt a bit more about it. If you only feel with your fingers, not much happens, but if you drag a metal object on the heel towards the window, unfortunately, quite a lot of gravel comes loose According to craftsmen who just felt a bit with their fingers, it would be okay!?

More and higher quality here: http://imgur.com/a/B6FcR

 

[snowjim]

Here are some videos I've taken where I'm scratching a bit on the surface outside. Should it crumble this much, or does it need to be re-cast?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ccAImlpvcU&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL1Ap1jxz4o&feature=youtu.be

 

[snowjim]

I've worked on the inside, and it feels like there’s significantly more crumbling on the outside. Can someone verify through the films that it is indeed frost-damaged?

If it is frost-damaged, how does that work? Do you have to take everything down?

Right now it feels like the craftsmen are ignoring me, but it's time to address it now that the weather has turned to positive degrees.