Hi,
I had an indian sandstone patio laid about 5 years ago and it's starting to look a bit tatty - specifically most of the pointing between flags is broken or coming out. In addition, a few (not many) of the flags rock very slightly when walking on them.
I've got some time on my hands so thought I might try and undertake the repairs myself. I wondered if someone could check my plan please?
I'm going to take all the existing pointing out and clean up the gaps nad make sure no debris (some gaps are quite large (maybe 20 - 25mm).
I then intend to lift the flags that are rocking and add an mortar mix (8:1 moist mix with grit sand) to the areas needed to get the flags to rest without rocking.
Leave for a day or two and then commence re-pointing. Having read up on some posts it seems that there are different views on whether to use a wet mix or dry mix for re-pointing. I was planning on the wet mix as views seem to be that this is longer lasting but care needs to be taken to avoid staining.
So a 3:1 wet mix with builders sand (do I need any grit sand) and some plasticiser. Clean any mix off flags as go along with wet sponge.
Leave for a couple of days.
Does that sound like a reasonable plan? I've read a few posts about using a bonding agent but don't know if that would be required.
Thanks for any help.
Indian sandstone re-pointing advice
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Left handed
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2016 4:23 pm
- Location: Uk
Take a look at my post and photies of danger-point in JOINT BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT.
You may well be advised by the better educated not to use DANGER-POINT but I'd do it again if I had too, and it was cheap.
Pointing was done a couple weeks after laying so effectively same as a repoint job!
Good luck whatever you do.
You may well be advised by the better educated not to use DANGER-POINT but I'd do it again if I had too, and it was cheap.
Pointing was done a couple weeks after laying so effectively same as a repoint job!
Good luck whatever you do.
Mucho gracias
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Tony McC
- Site Admin
- Posts: 8346
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:27 pm
- Location: Warrington, People's Republic of South Lancashire
- Contact:
If you're determined to use a cement mortar, then Left-Handed's experience with DangerPoint is well worth following....be patient, be very patient, and be very, very clean.
However, the easy (but not cheap) option is to use a good quality 2-part resin slurry mortar. For me, despite the cost, this is the simplest and safest option for DIYers.
Of course, it could be done with a cement mortar slurry, but cleaning is always the problem. Getting every last grain of cement off the surface before it cures is a real challenge, but can be done......if you want to take a bit more of a risk!
However, the easy (but not cheap) option is to use a good quality 2-part resin slurry mortar. For me, despite the cost, this is the simplest and safest option for DIYers.
Of course, it could be done with a cement mortar slurry, but cleaning is always the problem. Getting every last grain of cement off the surface before it cures is a real challenge, but can be done......if you want to take a bit more of a risk!
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