Apologies if I should have added this to an existing post. This is a first post from the uninitiated and I am not sure of the protocol for posts.
I have read many very helpful articles on this site about Black Limestone …… you know why
In conjunction with all the information gleaned I have also discussed my problem of cement staining with tilinglogistics.co.uk and the plan I have chosen to go with is……
PSRP X-treme - Heavy Duty Cleaner (fast acting concentrated high alkaline cleaner) - applied with an industrial scrubber fitted with a brush.
Followed by…...
PSRP Honing powder 320 grit - applied with an industrial scrubber fitted with a brush.
If anyone thinks otherwise then I would welcome your input / alternative views so that I can adjust my approach.
The pavers are not yet pointed and the dilemma I need your input on is, do I….
1, Point the flags, wiping mortar overspill as I go and then undertake the above washing and honing procedure?
Or
2, Undertake the above washing and honing procedure followed by sealing the pavers and then after sealing mortar the joints?
I will in any event be sealing the pavers with Romex Colour Enhancer in order to restore the colour. My DIY gut feel is 1 above, ie ‘carefully’ mortar the joints first, sort the cement staining out as described above and then undertake the sealing process. I am really interested to hear your expert views.
This sounds heavily over-engineered. There should be no need to be using any heavy duty cleaners to remove cement as it shouldn't be left on the surface of the stone to dry in the first place. It is imperative the slabs are laid on a full mortar bed and any residual mortar brushed / washed from the surface of the stone before it sets to avoid marking. Then when the bedding is dry, point the stone - a brush in mortar is good for this for ease of application and for a better colour match - again, not allowing it to set on the surface. Once all is set, a good clean up to remove surface dirt, allow it to dry and seal with an appropriate sealant, i.e. an impregnator/ breathable sealer that may be used soon after laying the paving.
By ensuring the mortar is not allowed to set on the stone will save you extra time and cost in removing it afterwards - and this goes for any type of paving, not just black limestone.
Thank you and understood.
Unfortunately being a DIYer (I thought I was pretty competent but obviously not) I am left with cement stains on a 7m x 3m patio. Since then I have laid more and been very careful to wipe down and as you say the result is much, much better. I now need to point the joints and I am thinking of doing this 'carefully'. Unfortunately I am unable to use a jointing compound as I used a 1:4.5/5 mix for a full mortar bed, which is on concrete slab. The manufacturer informed me that the jointing compound will not set as the mortar bed and base are not porous enough. So it will be a traditional on knees pointing exercise I am afraid!
The consensus from learning from this forum is that I will need to undertake some sort of procedure to remove the cement stains.
I am almost certainly gong to point before I try and remove the cement stains as this feels the right approach but if there is an alternative view I would appreciate it.Thank you.
