Pointing shrinkage cracks - Sandstone pointing has cracked.

[Dougnloz]

Hi all, long time paving layer, first time poster. I laid a large sandstone patio in July and August of this year. The pointing method we use is to press in a damp mix and "troweling" off with a brush handle. We always point on the same day as laying so that it bonds to the solid mortar bed. It gives a lovely solid finish and we've never gad any trouble. But this patio was laid in particularly hot dry conditions and some of the pointing has since shrunk a little, leaving a 1mm crack down one side of the pointing joints.
I'm thinking of trying to fill the cracks with a resin based sealer or joint stabiliser before the weather gets in. Any opinions or advice?
Doug.

[r896neo]

There's no short cut here... I doubt any sort of attempt at a fix won't last properly.


Out with the grinder

[lutonlagerlout]

my thoughts too...

shrinkage cracks can happen to the best of us

but theres no quick fix


LLL

[Dougnloz]

Oh bother, or words to that effect. Not what I wanted to hear. It's an 80sqm patio so I'm going to have to try a couple of things before I bankrupt myself repointing it. I'll let you know if I get any success.

[lutonlagerlout]

Doug no disrespect mate but its 2014

a brush handle??

marshalltown 81 brick jointer or pointing trowel all the way

cost very little and make life easier

LLL

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

If the cracks are not extensive its quite feasible to pay a days wage to chop out that grout with a hammer and suitable width chisel or screwdriver. It tends to come out quite easily. (Its fairly common here in Cape town with our hotter weather) There will be a variation in grout colour for a few months but it should fade to an acceptable level within months.

[Simon@Pristine Pathways]

Do you guys add any additives to your pointing mix? we usually mix in SBR and never have any problems.

Simon

[GB_Groundworks]

good idea to cover it in really baking sun like you would concrete

[lutonlagerlout]

if its a hot day I would always mist the pointing during and after its done
officially you are supposed to cover pointing with damp hessian on hot days but not sure of the practicality of this
LLL

[mike builder/landscaper]

If it's hot weather and we know we are ready for pointing up, we always give the Indian stone a thorough soaking the nite before, to stop the flags taking the moisture out of the pointing mix to quickly, just a little tip to pass on to anybody that's interested.