QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

I’d like to give a light limewash to our burnt brick exterior, just to lighten the brick. Any advice ?

When we were living in Clanwilliam I was trying to create a farm-yard effect in the back garden. I built walls and painted them with white limewash. The hardest part was trying to obtain a liquid form, but I eventually sourced it, but for the life of me cannot remember the name or brand.

The most popular method locally is to buy the product in powder form (Gluex from Cape Lime), and mix it with water. The problem with mixing it yourself or even letting a painter do it, is to keep the consistency as the colour varies with the amount of water added. You can go from bright white to grey.

Remember, when the painted walls get wet, it will change colour, but they will return to the original when dry.

To the best of my knowledge there are no specialist applicators; any good painting company should be able to handle it. As a contractor, I would be a little dubious undertaking the contract as keeping an even finish around the whole house might be difficult.

I also suggest a sample patch on an out-of-sight area to ensure you like the finished product.

The instructions will come with the material, but it is important to wet the walls before application. Our house is eight years old. We have encountered numerous problems because of the substandard work by the developer.

They used black plastic sheets underneath the roof tiles which have disintegrated. We have continuous dripping from the ceilings – even if it is not raining.

We were informed it is from condensation forming in the roof and we need to lift off the entire roof and replace the plastic.

Do you have any other advice for us?

First, I have never heard of black plastic being used under roof tiles. This is definitely not the norm.

Over the years we have been through yellow plastic, white plastic and now more recently specially-designed woven fabrics.

It is important to note whatever barrier is used it is not there to stop rain; roof tiles are designed not to leak.

The barrier is there to stop dust and prevent the tiles from lifting up. When internal and external wind pressures changes, the barrier is there to spread the wind load.

If you have leaks it is more likely because the tiles have not been laid properly, or the joints on the ridge, or hip tiles have cracked open, or the valleys have rusted.

Also, I have never experienced condensation problems from a tiled roof as by design there is always sufficient ventilation / throughdraft, to ensure condensation cannot form, so this is curious. I would seek advice from experienced roofing contractors in your area.

Please let me have copies of any reports that you obtain from them.

Please keep your questions or comments coming to don@macalister. co.za or SMS only to 082 446 3859