Rupert! What were you thinking?

[bboyminn]

---  "Child Of Midian" <md at ...> wrote:
>
> You don't replace the cement, it's simply a refacing. It's more like
> grouting tile, you just scrape or sand-blast the mortar then apply a surface
> layer of cement and strike the joints. All brick structures need it
> eventually, it's inevitable that some of the cement will crack and come
> apart, all buildings settle, all cement and concrete wears down under the
> elements. Stone faced buildings need it as well.
> 
> md
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> 
> 
> Miles:
> I do not think you have to worry. There are many brick buildings in my home 
> town which are much older than 40 years, and I never heard that the cement 
> had to be replaced..
> ...

bboyminn:

Right, it is something that is done on old house of brick or stone. At some point the cement between the bricks or stone needs to be touched up. It may have come loose, or cracked, or separated from the brick.

The problem is that to do a good job, it is very labor intensive and takes a very skill worker. You have to use a very tiny trowel so the cement only goes into the crack and not on the brick. This is very slow work.

Fortunately, no, it doesn't have to be done often, but one of Rupert's houses is an 18th century house. Trust me, if it hasn't already been tuck-pointed, it will have to be soon. Plus, he has three properties, all large estates with multiple buildings. 

I did a little reverse calculation to determine how much money Rupert would have to have in the bank to generate my predicted 300,000 per year expenses. At 4% interest, he needs a cash reserve of 7.5 million, that can be Pounds £ or Dollars $ as you wish. 

That would imply that his total worth would have to be 9.3 mil plus 7.5 mil for a total of 16.8 million, and it would have to remain stable at that level for as long as he owns the property. If he spends it down, then he earns less interest. So, he probably need closer to 20 million to cover his considerable expenses and have money to live on.

Now, he will certainly make some money in the future. He may even get a successful TV, Film, or comedy career. So, all is not completely lost, but he has massive assets tied up in these properties, which in turn represent many on-going expenses, that I hope and pray he has taken into consideration.

Steve/bboyminn