Dan, such a huge difference when you talk us though the building process, it makes for far more informative content and puts the focus on the project at hand. People otherwise get distracted by speculation into your personal life, which could get annoying. You do a great job. and your dedication is off the charts. Progress on both the cottage as well as the chateau are gripping to follow and I believe you are deserving of our attention for all the right reasons - your work ethic, creative decisions and unbelievable courage. Rock-on Dan! (the music is also kinda great)
Dan. A brilliant vlog. You make way too many things look easy. The effect you are going for looks great and totally in keeping with the house. Well done
You did a really good job of making the transition from the rendered part of the wall to the pointed part of the wall look organic. It just blends together and looks fantastic. 🧡
Lovely vlog, thankyou x Just one tip; when you are pointing - a pointing trowel helps. When the muck has just gone off - you don't brush it off. You 'churn' it with a rough hand brush. That involves banging in the muck to get the air pockets out and seats it correctly. It's a flicking banging motion. It also gives a good finish.
You’re doing a great job Dan. Could you give us a tour of the house and the outbuildings and barn and studio to see where you’re up to now? A before and after maybe?
You have a new wheelbarrow! Love watching you point a wall. You're so concerned how it looks when you are done. Always looks great. You have had a lot of practice for your Chateau.
I enjoy seeing you create an extension on the family home. You say you are not patient, but you preserver and that is more important. Little by little, it is getting there.
💖👑👑💖🎬🎥📽👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼I have been watching Dan for years and l always feel chilled out when l watch him work .l am so happy he has got his very own chateau which is a Beautiful Building .One good thing is he can put on suits with the bed rooms .The floors are amazing how thay are still there and are just Beautiful. This Chateau will have his blood swear and Tears in it but also a whole lot of LOVE from DAN AND HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF US FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD .💖😊💖👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I do remember him doing this in the kitchen .Great Job Dan keep up the great work we all love to watch and have your back with love and positivity 😊
I'll be 68 this summer and have no plans to do anything like this, but I enjoy watching you, Dan. It seems a bit like meditation in motion, and the results are simply lovely. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, from a subscriber in Michigan USA ❤🙏
Lesa from chateu de Montmagner is self taught and has lime mortered many of the walls inside of the chateau and has recently started on the Piggeries which she and Ted are converting into their own personal dwelling. She's so good at it she even did her friends internal walls in exchange for items that would benefit the flooring of the piggeries.
I needed this video 30 years ago - no videos back for this then even for VCR - if I asked about lime putty mortar or how to mix a lime/sand mortar in my area - people just looked at me like I was from outer space. A lot has changed since then . . but I need the knowledge back then. Oh, well, better late than never. . .
Yes, It's been interesting to learn about this technique, to see how you solved the 'estheticity' of this Wallrendering. And for a change more relaxing to watch then the Roof-bit! Your way down towards the blue door looks so very nice now, I can just imagine some plants left and right. Also I take a sec. to say, Please be more realistic when you do 'Stuff' on the roof! After all, and first of all, you are a Dad with 2 lovely Boys that need their Dad to be healthy! Sorry for sounding a bit Maternal but .... we 'Watchers' to want the Best for your Family cause over the years we All have become to like you much!
Love when you talk us through the process. More relatable for those of us who love the ‘how to’ of building. You have an artistic eye when pointing stone walls. The pantry at Lalande was spectacular and this addition is also looking great with partial stone reveal!
Dan, you have come along way from where we first saw you pointing! Your video here today shows how far your confidence level has grown. You do have a knack and a good eye for design in your working in it. Next thing you know we’ll be seeing you as a presenter on Master Class! Keep up the good work!
This is a great tutorial Dan. The wall looks so very good, you do amazing stone work. Great job! It has been very interesting, love watching you work hard. lol All the best!
Adding lots of experience to your resume. When you add all that experience to your Chateau you will be steps ahead of other Chateau owners. You and Billy just seem to know how to do the work needed to renovate a cottage, Chateau and Convent!!! You got a new wheel barrel, looking good!!! See ya tomarra!!!!
Awesome to learn from you! You make it look easy, I know from experience it is not! Just accept it, you are an artist in all that has your attention. Thanks so much for taking us along 😊
Brilliant. Thank you for sharing. Now I know how to point a stone wall. Amazing. Looks like you having a great time getting back into it all. Looking forward to seeing the rood completed with the oak beams and extension/overhang. Very exciting
Absolutely love the explanations as you are videotaping!!!! It’s so helpful to understand what your doing and what’s going on. ❤️❤️❤️👍🏼. From Wilmington, North Carolina. USA
Fluffy and sticky describes cotton candy, not sure about the rendering mixture though!😂 I believe you also showed us how to do that at Stephanie's Chateau when you were doing the pantry/hallway while she was gone.🥀🥀
Always interesting because I have never seen historic building being brought back to like in my neck of the woods. You have taken on so much work, it's amazing you have the patience for it all.
Nice one Dan - lovely job. I have a wall to do in our house in the Dordogne so appreciate the lesson to follow by rewatching the vlog when I come to do it in the Summer.
Dan you show more patience than anyone in what you have achieved over the years, and in daily life! Sandi x PS I do hope you got your 'new' car fixed....
I don't know if I will ever make that stone wall around my garden that I daydream about, BUT you have removed a lot of the mystery around mortar pointing and made me think that it IS something I could do myself one day.
Thanks for the tutorial it’s encouraging and makes its less intimidating to tackle these jobs and for not leaving out helpful details it is a work of art
Everyone loves it when renovations are started but I know from previous experiences I hate the mess and constant clean up . Annalise must have the patience of a saint .🇦🇺🙋♀️
I’ve always loved how you care about the way to care and point so the stones stand out and history remains just like you did on other projects on this cottage and at Stephanie’s château. You are an amazing man in all the things you undertake. Well done Dan, really enjoyed hearing you walk through the process. No matter what never boring. Take care and see you tomorrow.❤❤❤
Oh Dan! I really like the "how to" thing! You're good at it and it's entertaining and informative. I doubt I'll ever get a chance to do this but I so enjoy dreaming about fixing up my own little cottage somewhere! Thanks for the nice break in my day!
Good Thursday morning from the SF Bay Area. I love watching these processes even though I am unlikely to ever do any of them. However, some of these things can be applied to smaller crafting projects or gardens which I can do. Lovely work.
Dan, thanks, I've a chimney to repair this summer and couldn't wrap my head around the consistency and how to go about it after applying the 1st coat. You've shown me exactly what to do.
Thanks for this, Dan - our piggery needs some attention this year and this is our training video! We have a very similar schist type stone and need to do it ourselves.
Dan you make doing these projects seem so easy. I actually would love to do something like that to a short retaining wall out in my backyard. But I do love watching this type of projects. Well done Dan. Carry on.
It's your wall and you're not being asked to paint the Sistine Chapel for posterity. Think of fluffy cake icing for texture when you're mixing. A proper flat trowel like Dan uses will let you push mortar into the cracks and smooth any flat surface finish. Keep you busy over a warm and dry weekend nearer the summer. Have a glass of something nice chilling, ready to celebrate when it's done.
If you decide to do an exterior wall you should use a 'sharp' sand for pointing - for good bonding. Use a pointing trowel and then 'churn' with a stiff hand brush when it has just gone off.. ie not quite hardened. Depending on the weather I leave overnight and do this the next morning. If its drying quickly you can churn just after you finish a section. Its important to do this step to knock out any air pockets and create a surface that mitigates cracking. If you have large holes then push stone or slate into the mortar as you go. You can also add some horsehair. The fine sand Dan is using is usually used in the recipe for the third coat of lime - the top coat of lime plaster but is fine in interiors.
This was really interesting! I hope you do more videos like this where you teach us something new. I bought my first house recently so I'm even more interested in DIY home projects/building.
152 comments two hours after posting, that shows how much we find your vlogs interesting Dan. I like this partial look of exposed stone very French. Here in US we call it rustic. Well done good pointers.
The wall is gorgeous! Thank you for explaining all the steps. Very interesting. Like you Patience is not one of my better virtues. I would’ve had the toothbrush if they’re scraping immediately. Lol thank goodness I didn’t do it.😂 thank you so much. 💜🤗🤟🏻😎🇺🇸
This was a great, informative video. I am truly invested in your various projects at this point. Only because I care about you, step one probably should have been putting on some PII (i.e. a mask and eye protection). We don't want you having eye problems or respiratory issues later in life. Stay safe!
Looking good. I have done some walls like this on our house, in the Vendee. It is very satisfying. But if anyone has a go please wear gloves as it burns😩 I used a 3 to 1 mix.
Dan, such a huge difference when you talk us though the building process, it makes for far more informative content and puts the focus on the project at hand. People otherwise get distracted by speculation into your personal life, which could get annoying. You do a great job. and your dedication is off the charts. Progress on both the cottage as well as the chateau are gripping to follow and I believe you are deserving of our attention for all the right reasons - your work ethic, creative decisions and unbelievable courage. Rock-on Dan! (the music is also kinda great)
I admire your dedication to creating an old building look old again but is more stable than before. Well done 👍🏻
Dan. A brilliant vlog. You make way too many things look easy. The effect you are going for looks great and totally in keeping with the house. Well done
You did a really good job of making the transition from the rendered part of the wall to the pointed part of the wall look organic. It just blends together and looks fantastic. 🧡
Lovely vlog, thankyou x Just one tip; when you are pointing - a pointing trowel helps. When the muck has just gone off - you don't brush it off. You 'churn' it with a rough hand brush. That involves banging in the muck to get the air pockets out and seats it correctly. It's a flicking banging motion. It also gives a good finish.
Finally a video that explains the whole process. Thank you!
You’re doing a great job Dan. Could you give us a tour of the house and the outbuildings and barn and studio to see where you’re up to now? A before and after maybe?
it's all there in past blogs...befores and afters. 🤩
You have a new wheelbarrow! Love watching you point a wall. You're so concerned how it looks when you are done. Always looks great. You have had a lot of practice for your Chateau.
hope you washout the barrow after each use . or do you intend making it an art installation?
I enjoy seeing you create an extension on the family home. You say you are not patient, but you preserver and that is more important. Little by little, it is getting there.
💖👑👑💖🎬🎥📽👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼I have been watching Dan for years and l always feel chilled out when l watch him work .l am so happy he has got his very own chateau which is a Beautiful Building .One good thing is he can put on suits with the bed rooms .The floors are amazing how thay are still there and are just Beautiful. This Chateau will have his blood swear and Tears in it but also a whole lot of LOVE from DAN AND HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF US FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD .💖😊💖👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I do remember him doing this in the kitchen .Great Job Dan keep up the great work we all love to watch and have your back with love and positivity 😊
Dan...your art school training is evident in pointing work. Nice job!
I'll be 68 this summer and have no plans to do anything like this, but I enjoy watching you, Dan. It seems a bit like meditation in motion, and the results are simply lovely. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, from a subscriber in Michigan USA ❤🙏
Lesa from chateu de Montmagner is self taught and has lime mortered many of the walls inside of the chateau and has recently started on the Piggeries which she and Ted are converting into their own personal dwelling. She's so good at it she even did her friends internal walls in exchange for items that would benefit the flooring of the piggeries.
I needed this video 30 years ago - no videos back for this then even for VCR - if I asked about lime putty mortar or how to mix a lime/sand mortar in my area - people just looked at me like I was from outer space. A lot has changed since then . . but I need the knowledge back then. Oh, well, better late than never. . .
Yes, It's been interesting to learn about this technique, to see how you solved the 'estheticity' of this Wallrendering. And for a change more relaxing to watch then the Roof-bit! Your way down towards the blue door looks so very nice now, I can just imagine some plants left and right. Also I take a sec. to say, Please be more realistic when you do 'Stuff' on the roof! After all, and first of all, you are a Dad with 2 lovely Boys that need their Dad to be healthy! Sorry for sounding a bit Maternal but .... we 'Watchers' to want the Best for your Family cause over the years we All have become to like you much!
Love when you talk us through the process. More relatable for those of us who love the ‘how to’ of building. You have an artistic eye when pointing stone walls. The pantry at Lalande was spectacular and this addition is also looking great with partial stone reveal!
Dan, you have come along way from where we first saw you pointing! Your video here today shows how far your confidence level has grown. You do have a knack and a good eye for design in your working in it. Next thing you know we’ll be seeing you as a presenter on Master Class! Keep up the good work!
the vision, talent and patience of a true artist.
I have no intention of pointing a wall...but it's charming to sit on the patio and watch. :)
This is a great tutorial Dan. The wall looks so very good, you do amazing stone work. Great job! It has been very interesting, love watching you work hard. lol All the best!
Thanks for the pointing class, Dan. Looks great!!
Thank you, Dan, you explained this really clearly and the results are impressive!
Adding lots of experience to your resume. When you add all that experience to your Chateau you will be steps ahead of other Chateau owners. You and Billy just seem to know how to do the work needed to renovate a cottage, Chateau and Convent!!! You got a new wheel barrel, looking good!!! See ya tomarra!!!!
Getting to be an expert on this pointing thing. Looking good with the fluffy consistency. See ya tomorrow 😍😘
wow Dan that wall just pops, great work as always, thank you for sharing.
Love the lesson on traditional way to point the wall Dan the pointing man. See yer tomorrow xx
Its looking beautiful, Danling. I do like to hear you say, "it just takes a bit of time and patience."💗
Nice job Dan! The wall looks beautiful!
Awesome to learn from you! You make it look easy, I know from experience it is not! Just accept it, you are an artist in all that has your attention. Thanks so much for taking us along 😊
Brilliant. Thank you for sharing. Now I know how to point a stone wall. Amazing. Looks like you having a great time getting back into it all. Looking forward to seeing the rood completed with the oak beams and extension/overhang. Very exciting
It so beautiful, I'm sure that it's not easy, but it looks enjoyable enough and it's always beautiful when you finish it. Great job.
Love partially exposed stone or brick. Great job, Dan!
Absolutely love the explanations as you are videotaping!!!! It’s so helpful to understand what your doing and what’s going on. ❤️❤️❤️👍🏼.
From Wilmington, North Carolina. USA
Sounds like it's a good thing you got that roof tiled!
Good job to do on a rainy day. It's really coming along. See you
tomorrow!!!!!!
Looks really awesome,,must be very satisfying seeing the stones pop out after brushing. Great job, as usual! You got it Dan!
Fluffy and sticky describes cotton candy, not sure about the rendering mixture though!😂 I believe you also showed us how to do that at Stephanie's Chateau when you were doing the pantry/hallway while she was gone.🥀🥀
Love a good tutorial! Hoping for lots more from the chateau.
Wow! Loved the wall. Good work, beautiful!
Everything you do is interesting, Dan.
Great instructional video. I just need a cute little old cottage to try this technique. 🤣
Let’s go with fluffy and sticky - sounds good to me. Love your vlogs mate. Wall looks great. Hugs from Australia
I love that wall...wonderfully done.
Dan I love the description "fluffy and sticky" chef and diy all rolled into one😊😊
Great lesson Dan and love the beautiful look that you have achieved. You are very artistic!
Always interesting because I have never seen historic building being brought back to like in my neck of the woods. You have taken on so much work, it's amazing you have the patience for it all.
Well done ,Dan,
You never give tutorial style videos, and you are quite good at it
Very interesting and looks great. See you tomorrow!!
Happy 50th! Congratulations.
Dan, I love that you take us along, but not only that, I've learned from you how to point & do limestone walls, Thank You ..
Looks amazing Dan...love watching you transform these old buildings into something beautiful to look at.
It’s a handsome wall as are you a handsome handyman.
Great job Dan and I’ll see you tomorrow 👍😀👍
Nice one Dan - lovely job. I have a wall to do in our house in the Dordogne so appreciate the lesson to follow by rewatching the vlog when I come to do it in the Summer.
Love it! I’m currently in a military quarter but one day I will find somewhere to try this out!
Yes, we like it, Dan! Your respect for old buildings comes thru:)
Dan you show more patience than anyone in what you have achieved over the years, and in daily life! Sandi x PS I do hope you got your 'new' car fixed....
I don't know if I will ever make that stone wall around my garden that I daydream about, BUT you have removed a lot of the mystery around mortar pointing and made me think that it IS something I could do myself one day.
Easily
Thanks for the tutorial it’s encouraging and makes its less intimidating to tackle these jobs and for not leaving out helpful details it is a work of art
Gosh, this has been like watching cement dry...boom boom. The wall looks great Dan.
Everyone loves it when renovations are started but I know from previous experiences I hate the mess and constant clean up . Annalise must have the patience of a saint .🇦🇺🙋♀️
I’ve always loved how you care about the way to care and point so the stones stand out and history remains just like you did on other projects on this cottage and at Stephanie’s château.
You are an amazing man in all the things you undertake. Well done Dan, really enjoyed hearing you walk through the process. No matter what never boring.
Take care and see you tomorrow.❤❤❤
❤ so true
Reminds me of the beautiful kitchen wall you did. The finish looks lovely.
Oh Dan! I really like the "how to" thing! You're good at it and it's entertaining and informative. I doubt I'll ever get a chance to do this but I so enjoy dreaming about fixing up my own little cottage somewhere! Thanks for the nice break in my day!
You are a perfectionist at heart and it shows in the finished product Dan. Well done 💕🇦🇺
I’m ready to tackle a stone wall (if I had one😂) after watching excellent tutorials by you and Tracey 🎉
The wall looks beautiful ❤
You make everything look easy and effortless. I'm sure that is far from reality.😊
Good Thursday morning from the SF Bay Area. I love watching these processes even though I am unlikely to ever do any of them. However, some of these things can be applied to smaller crafting projects or gardens which I can do. Lovely work.
Really is beautiful, love the natural look, be safe stay healthy enjoy your day
The wall looks smashing!😁
I am so glad you did not cover all the wall. It's gorgeous!
Dan you have so much patience- but it’s so worth it!! 🎉
Your wall looks really good, very professional Job.
Dan, thanks, I've a chimney to repair this summer and couldn't wrap my head around the consistency and how to go about it after applying the 1st coat. You've shown me exactly what to do.
You are doing a great job on the house addition, can't wait to see the house finished. Hugs, Kathy 🇺🇸
It’s going to look so amazing when it’s done I can’t wait either 😍🏠
Thanks for the lesson in rendering. It may come in handy as I work on my property in the south of France. Cheers!
Looking better every day! You make me think I can do this at almost 70 years of age! Ha!
Thanks for this, Dan - our piggery needs some attention this year and this is our training video! We have a very similar schist type stone and need to do it ourselves.
Dan you make doing these projects seem so easy. I actually would love to do something like that to a short retaining wall out in my backyard. But I do love watching this type of projects. Well done Dan. Carry on.
It's your wall and you're not being asked to paint the Sistine Chapel for posterity. Think of fluffy cake icing for texture when you're mixing. A proper flat trowel like Dan uses will let you push mortar into the cracks and smooth any flat surface finish. Keep you busy over a warm and dry weekend nearer the summer. Have a glass of something nice chilling, ready to celebrate when it's done.
If you decide to do an exterior wall you should use a 'sharp' sand for pointing - for good bonding. Use a pointing trowel and then 'churn' with a stiff hand brush when it has just gone off.. ie not quite hardened. Depending on the weather I leave overnight and do this the next morning. If its drying quickly you can churn just after you finish a section. Its important to do this step to knock out any air pockets and create a surface that mitigates cracking. If you have large holes then push stone or slate into the mortar as you go. You can also add some horsehair. The fine sand Dan is using is usually used in the recipe for the third coat of lime - the top coat of lime plaster but is fine in interiors.
Thank you Dan.
I love this detailed tutorial on just how you approached fixing this wall.
Well, if there is ever a time in my life I need to do stone work I will know how to do it. Thanks Dan the man.
This was really interesting! I hope you do more videos like this where you teach us something new. I bought my first house recently so I'm even more interested in DIY home projects/building.
Great stuff Dan! You are creating works of art in these walls, I too love the rustic look of the stone walls.👏👌🥰
Lovely demonstration Dan. Thanks
I'd say you are very patient Dan! That looks great 😊
Looking good.. you have the patience of a saint, bless you. I don’t think I could do it. Glad I’m not in charge!
Closer to the next step. Liked that you left the rain in the sound track. See ya tomorrow.
Pure motivation Dan!!! Thanks for sharing
It's stunning -- beautiful work, Dan.
152 comments two hours after posting, that shows how much we find your vlogs interesting Dan. I like this partial look of exposed stone very French. Here in US we call it rustic. Well done good pointers.
Amazing transformation! Well done Dan🙏❤️
The wall is gorgeous! Thank you for explaining all the steps. Very interesting. Like you Patience is not one of my better virtues. I would’ve had the toothbrush if they’re scraping immediately. Lol thank goodness I didn’t do it.😂 thank you so much. 💜🤗🤟🏻😎🇺🇸
This was a great, informative video. I am truly invested in your various projects at this point. Only because I care about you, step one probably should have been putting on some PII (i.e. a mask and eye protection). We don't want you having eye problems or respiratory issues later in life. Stay safe!
Love what your doing Dan, but favourite is still the job you did in the kitchen as a whole❣️
Thank you! I have saved this so I might refer back to it once I have found my project to the south!
Thanks for the tutorial! I’ve been wanting to try this, and you explained it very clearly.
The wall looks amazing! You are learning many skills that will be useful at your Chateau.
So therapeutic.seeing the end result.its like vely
Looking good. I have done some walls like this on our house, in the Vendee. It is very satisfying. But if anyone has a go please wear gloves as it burns😩 I used a 3 to 1 mix.
Superb to watch Dan…thank you. Another great job. Dottie x