New slab path - Pointing

Patio flagstones (slabs), concrete flags, stone flags including yorkstone and imported flagstones.
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RodA
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:19 pm
Location: Oxfordshire

Post: # 29611Post RodA

I've just laid a new slab path, it was laid on sharp sand and I'm pleased with the result. However, I had some sharp sand left so I used it for the dry pointing in a 1 to 4 mix. It's rained several times since I did the pointing and the dry mortar mix has not set hard, it’s still as loose as when I brushed it in. I have a horrible feeling that I should have used soft sand so that it bonded to the cement in the dry mortar mix, am I right?

dig dug dan
Posts: 2504
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:20 pm
Location: hemel hempstead,herts. 01442 212315

Post: # 29613Post dig dug dan

almost

what you should have done was a wet point mix. Brushing the stuff in dry never works.

Generally i point with 3-1 soft sand cement, sometimes 4-1. but never dry mix swept in

you will need to remove it all and start again i'm afraid!
Dan the Crusher Man
01442 212315
www.crusherhire.co.uk
"a satisfied customer? we should have them stuffed!"

Tony McC
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Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:27 pm
Location: Warrington, People's Republic of South Lancashire
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Post: # 29648Post Tony McC

Why do people persist with dry mix jointing? Waste of effing time! :(
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Slabba.
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:51 pm
Location: Cornwall

Post: # 29913Post Slabba.

Dito tony.!!

RodA
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:19 pm
Location: Oxfordshire

Post: # 29915Post RodA

An update, I dug out the dry mix and replaced it with a 3:1 soft sand wet mix with some buff colouring added. I used a mortar gun this time which worked well and avoided staining on the slabs (the reason I tried a dry mix first time around). It's fine now!

"Why do people persist with dry mix jointing? - Tony McC"

Because I'm a DIYer and don't know any better, but then the mistake only cost me a small bag of soft sand and a little bit of cement, my times comes completely free!

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