M-joint or wickes - Pointing

[brobat]

Hi,
Thanks for a great site.
I'm about to point my Mum's patio (Marshalls Saxon buff on a 10:1 bed with some slabs around the edge bedded on wet 4:1 mortar. Terraced house so old patio out & new one in through the house!). I was about to use Marshalls M-joint but phoned them 1st to check. They said it must only be used on 5 spot bedding as the water that sets it must permeate fully or it will break up. An alternative locally is Wickes Patio grout which is an air dried polymeric (I gather). Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks again.

[Tony McC]

I know I'm late to this but I'm shocked to hear that Marshalls claim the M-Jollop works only with the truly awful spot bedding. I know of no other polymeric that makes such a ludicrous demand, and I've never heard this line from Marshalls previously.

What's the point of having a good polymeric jointing product if it only works with a shite bedding method?

[brobat]

Thanks for the reply (& the entire site). Is there any advantage in a water-set one like M-joint over an air-set one like Wickes or Sika Pave Fix from B & Q (I assume the last 2 are the same) such as the risk of staining (the flags have a rough surface), not setting, just better performing? I'll use gaffer tape to seal the overhanging edges of the paving to contain the powder while it is setting if this is OK.
Thanks again
Steve

[SUE @ EASIPOINT]

Hi

As a manufacturer I won't comment on anyone else's products but suggest you check out our website www.easipoint.co.uk, look on the domestic section, I think you'll find the answer to your problem.

Cheers

Sue

[Tony McC]

From the very limited research I've done, there is no great difference between patio-grade air- or water-cured polymerics, once they've cured. For me, the water-cured are easier to use, but it's a very subjective thing.

Unlike Sue, I've no problem in commenting on any manufacturers products (I try to be equally horrid to all of them!) so it pains me not at all to say that the air-cured product (note the use of the singular) you mentioned is not one I would use. It's better than GeoFix (but then, most things are) but it's nowhere near as good as some of the others.

[lutonlagerlout]

brobat
i will go even further
when i saw this m-joint stuff i immediately texted the gaffer
recommended 5 spot bedding!!!
heresy!!!
what you need is either easipoint or romex patio of gftk
them saxon slabs are very unforgiving in terms of mortar stains so i would go for romex or gftk (polymerics) search this site for contact details
cheers
LLL

[Rich H]

I used Sika pave on one small patio last year and it went off a treat. Based on this I used it on a several more.

I revisited one of them somewhile after and found a) the pointing was breaking up, b) it had indentations from high heels (not mine) and c) it had tiny weeds growing in it in a shady spot.

I chipped it all out and re-did it with semi-dry mortar as per usual and inspected all the others, with varying unsatisfactory results. All of them bar the original (which still looks fine) have now been re-pointed with mortar.

All of my remaining stock went in a skip. I wouldn't give it away.

[Tony McC]

Rich's experience with PaveFix echoes that of several other contractors over the summer. The three most popular comments I've heard are....

1 -it doesn't go off properly/it had partly gorn orf when I opened the pack

2 - It went a funny colour in next to no time (algae, I reckon)

3 - It didn't bond to the edges of the flags and now there's weeds growing in it.


I set up a trial area for PaveFix using a newly re-laid patio belonging to one of my rellies, but the bugger has upped and moved now, before I had a chance to check out how it was performing!

[lutonlagerlout]

same experience with geo-fix
every patio i used it on bar one has had to be repointed
and that particular guy tried pulling a stroke over summat else, so he can take a long walk on a short pier if he ever rings up
even my romex has discoloured to a fair extent although it is still rock hard and well packed in
may just go back to mortar albeit easi-point
tried and tested method over the years
LLL

[surreyhillslandscapes.com]

I agree, I've tried a few of the above but can't beat building sand, little sharp sand, cement, water, and maybe a little dye.

[nelly05]

I used Rompx Terrasse on my patio and its all gone a funny colour - almost dark purple!!!

And on the edges where it comes over the wall slightly, the wall under each joint has gone a funny colour

Ah well ill paint it all black if it looks basd after xmas :p

regards

[James.Q]

tried geo fix at a hair dressers temple hair studio . got to go back and point with mortar for a proper job . far to many high heels have left there mark . i wont believe the hype again . old school seems to be best ps also almost gone black should be buff