Mortar for natural paving ivory sandstone - Advice reqd for paving and steps

[scotpot]

I'm about to have a patio laid and matching stairs built using Natural Paving Ivory Sandstone (sawn) paving. http://www.naturalpaving.co.uk/products ... premistone

Having read this forum I'm realising that it can be a bit of a minefield so want to ensure my builder heads down the correct route.

Would really appreciate any recommendations and/or tips for the mortar?

Also, the stairs will have a 20mm overhang - again, any tips?

[London Stone Paving]

Scotpot

I would go for a light coloured grout. Off white or light grey would be my suggestion. There are a couple of companies out there that supply this type product. Larsen & Easypoint. Both products are designed to be installed using a mortar gun.

Re the steps, I would always advise that the over hang is the same as the thickness of the stone. That way it looks in proportion. You also need to consider cutting a drip groove in to the over hang to prevent water from running down the faces of the risers

Steve

Larsen

Easypoint

[PavingSuperstore]

Natural Paving produces their own jointing mortar called Pavetuf. The buff coloured one would be the most suitable. Here's a link: http://www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk/pavetuf....0-p.asp

With regards to the stairs, the Natural Paving Cornsilk is the same stone with a sandblasted slip resistant surface and this comes with bullnosed step treads, so it might create a nice finish to use these for the steps.

[scotpot]

Does anyone have any experience of this Pavetuf jointing mortar which they could share?

Steve -- thanks, I'll take a look at those colours.

[Tony McC]

It's a fairly typical polymeric - nowhere near as good as a 2-part epoxy, but generally good enough for residential patio paving that isn't power-washed to death every other weekend.

If you do use a polymeric (and PaveTuf is better than many of that ilk) and you want to use a power washer, make sure you use a rotary head cleaner and NOT the lance.

[scotpot]

We're about to select the grouting for the stairs. Can I just double check that a product like Parex will be fine for the overhang on the stairs? Would it not just drip through?!

Is there a better solution?

(Links to images below)

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[Azpects]

Natural Paving produces their own jointing mortar called Pavetuf. The buff coloured one would be the most suitable. Here's a link: http://www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk/pavetuf....0-p.asp

With regards to the stairs, the Natural Paving Cornsilk is the same stone with a sandblasted slip resistant surface and this comes with bullnosed step treads, so it might create a nice finish to use these for the steps.

or alternatively use the Original and best All Weather Jointing Compound on the UK Market today

http://www.azpects.co.uk/products/easy-joint.aspx

Unlike many of our rivals however, ours is UK made and offers the largest range of colours, giving you and your customers more choice!

[lutonlagerlout]

we use 50mm gaffer tape to hold the pointing in the overhanging joints
this can be tricky if the stone is wet!
LLL

[seanandruby]

Just make little bird tables and place under joints. You can do them like piers so you can still point the perp' behind. Labour intensive i know but will work on wet slabs. Rub a bit of oil on soffet so easy to strike.

[cookiewales]

Natural Paving produces their own jointing mortar called Pavetuf. The buff coloured one would be the most suitable. Here's a link: http://www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk/pavetuf....0-p.asp

With regards to the stairs, the Natural Paving Cornsilk is the same stone with a sandblasted slip resistant surface and this comes with bullnosed step treads, so it might create a nice finish to use these for the steps.

or alternatively use the Original and best All Weather Jointing Compound on the UK Market today

http://www.azpects.co.uk/products/easy-joint.aspx

Unlike many of our rivals however, ours is UK made and offers the largest range of colours, giving you and your customers more choice!

have never come across your easy joint what price is it per kg trade

[scotpot]

We're using PaveTuf Buff for the patio and my landscaper is considering a mixture of SBR, silica & building sand with a mortar gun for the stairs (incl. uprights and overhang)

Thoughts?

[cookiewales]

Buy the proper pointing Larsen easy point instarmac don't play with it will end in tears £25 well spent

[PavingSuperstore]

Makes sense to use the one recommended by Natural Paving - the supplier of your paving.

[lutonlagerlout]

with all due respect George polymerics are ok for a while
I have yet to see one down for 5 years that still looks good

the romans used sand and cement pointing and a lot of it still looks good

thats longevity

so you ask yourself?

do i want it to be easy to install now
or do i want it to see me out?

LLL

[PavingSuperstore]

Seen lots of sand and cement that doesn't even last the year! Agree that when done right, it gives a good long lasting finish, but so often it isn't done correctly and I think this is where polymerics have the edge.

It's not essential to use polymerics at all, but as per my point above, if the paving supplier you are using produces their own one AND you want to use a polymeric, then I would suggest you choose the one they recommend. This gives you the peace of mind that should you have any problems, you have followed the 'manufacturer's guidelines' so to speak. I wouldn't expect there to be any problems with Natural Paving's materials, but if a third-party product was used, it would become more of a difficult issue to resolve.