Moist mix in the rain?

[Brik]

Hi,
Over the last few weeks I have been trying to lay a patio, but so far all I have is the base! I have been waiting for a few dry days to do the rest. I am now getting really impatient as it does not look like the weather will improve at all!

I have a nice hard base, with all levels done etc and I was going to lay the slabs (Indian sandstone) using the moist mix method described in the site (and my friend who is helping has used this method before). My question is whether or not I can use this method in the rain (isolated heavy showers, rather than constant rain)? Will the stones set correctly or will it all be spongy? (I am not going to do the grouting at this stage as I know it has to be dry for that)

I hope someone can help! Thanks!

[matt h]

best being patient, lay in haste regret at leisure imho

[Tony McC]

While it would be best to wait for a dry spell, most of us in the trade can't afford to retire to the alehouse everytime there's a few drops of rain (unless we work for the council, that is) and so we are obliged to carry on working in all but the heaviest of showers.

As a guide, if you can get the moist mix down and the flag laid before the bed goes all soggy, and you can do this without splashing cement everywhere, then proceed with caution, but as soon as the job starts getting messy, best knock it on the head and leave it until the weather improves.

[James.Q]

a large polythene sheet comes in handy to cover the flags. always seem to have a roll in the van these days or nowt would get done

[Slabba.]

Brik, dont worry mate. Lay at your leisure. Like tony said we cant stop work for a bit of rain or nothing would get done. The weather wont have long lasting affects on the project. It may take a little longer for the muck to set but apart from the obvious cement splashes whilst laying the slabs not much can go wrong.
Quick tip: The indian sandstone should be laid with the widest face up, lay it the other way n the joints will be huuuuge!!!!

[Brik]

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it.

The forecast for Wednesday seems to be OK so going to give it a go then, leave everything set for a few days and then on the next dry day do the grout (Rompox). Then we can relax with a few beers!!

[Slabba.]

Sounds good brik. Beer aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!:laugh:

[Brik]

Hi,

Well it didn't rain in the end and I got most of the patio done last week and it has hardened very nicely.

However, I had to do another section yesterday and seem to have a problem. The first section I did yesterday is almost already solid today, which is great. However the rest of what I did yesterday does not seem right. the mortar/cement (moist mix method) has not yet solidified and crumbles when touched. The mix did seem a little thinner than the first section when I was putting it down but was still in the right proportions etc.

Is there anything I can do to ensure it solidifies properly? Sprinkle cement powder on to it? Or should I just wait and hope it goes solid on its own?

Thanks again!

[Slabba.]

Give it time to go off brik. It will still be green for a while. As long as you have done a standard 4-1 mix it will go off fine. Whatever you do, do not try to force it dry.

[Tony McC]

This crumbly mortar: is that jointing/pointing? If it is, and it's gone crumbly, that nearly always signifies parching of the mortar by bone dry flags and/or bedding. In essence, the flags or bedding have sucked out all the free moisture before the cement in the mortar has had a chance to properly hydrate (soak up water and use it to re-crystallise as hard stuff).

What's it like now, Brik?