Pointing and weather!

[oddjobjohn]

Hi guys,

Well finally got round to laying the patio, so far so good(ish) just one slab that needed to be redone as it was rocking. However I finished on tuesday evening, just in time for to point it all, or so I thought, until a bright sunny day turned black as night and the heavens opened. I know I need to point it all but with all the showers around at the minute and the other half prefering a darker mortar I am paranoid about staining what is (so far) a half decent patio for a first attempt.

If we stay off the patio and try and point it this weekend will any damage have been caused to it? asi want to use a dark mortar, how long does it need to 'go off' to a state where an odd shower wont end up with black staining everywhere.Bloomin' English 'summers'! i would use a polymeric mortar like vpw800 as per another thread but would probably need just over a standard 'tub' to finish it and its pretty pricey nd can't really afford another £100+ at the minute.

Cheers in advance for any advice

John

[Tony McC]

100 quid per pail is a bit of an exaggeration!

For mortar pointing, you need the surface to be dry and for the rain to keep off for at least 24 hours. If rain is imminent, you can sheet over with polythene.

[oddjobjohn]

Cheers, no sory, I didnt mean 100/tub, just that it would probably run just over one so i'd end up with 90% of a second tub left over and from what I can gather once it's open its use it or lose it.

fingers crossed the rain clouds blow in a different direction this weekend.