geofix

[kenek49]

has anyone used this geofix compound to point slabs and if so how have the results been, by the way great site

[84-1093879891]

Depends on the joint width. I don't like Geo-fix (or other polymeric products that do not bond to the flags) in joints more than 3-4 mm in width. I would never recommend Geo-fix et al for riven flags, setts, cobbles or any other paving with widish joints, or where the paving is what we call 'joint dependent' (ie: the strength and integrity of the pavement relies on having a permamnet, sound and reliable jointing material in place).

I know this stance doesn't make me popular with the sales team at the GeoFix/Feb/MBT/DeGussa offices, but I have seen too many problem sites where GeoFix has been the cause. When used for narrow joints, on non-vehicular areas, I don't have a problem with its use, but it is sold without adequate warning raegding its limitrations and I have more than 20 'cases' on record where Contractors and DIYers have bought GeoFix in good faith and been bitterky disappointed when it's fallen out of their paving, when it's given up and fallen out of the joints, and when it's allowed paving to be skewed and slipped all over the place.

If you're 'Mortarphobic' (as a friend in N.Ireland calls it), and you have butt-jointed paving, then I can't fault it, but I get annoyed when I hear it being promoted as being 'ideal' for block paving, when it's not, or when it's used for setts, where it is only slightly better than using dried sand.

So - consider what sort of paving you have, and make your decision accordingly.

[alan ditchfield]

i am a fully qualified landscaper with years of experience, i only found this website when trying to find information on geofix i have allways used a wet mortar mix when pointing flags with approx. 15mm joints. like most landscapers we find this tedious work when there is 200 mtrs of paving infront of you, so last year we started using geofix and thought it was fantastic however after 6 months it seems to start breaking down and it also seems to be a magnet for dirt and turns black within a very short time we have spoken to landscapers all over the country who have encountered similar problems, my advice is stay away from the stuff.

[ken]

The firm i trained with used it all the time when it was put on the market, we went back to most of the jobs and pointed them with mortar.

[84-1093879891]

This is typical of the tales I hear about GeoFix from contractors up and down the country. They try it once and rarely bother again. If it was just a couple of quid, it wouldn't matter as much, but it's quite expensive, and when you're paying Premier League money, you expect Premier League performance, and not the Nationwide Conference standard many contractors experience with GeoFix.

[alan ditchfield]

we have used geofix on several jobs and it has failed on most of them and it is only the latest that have not failed(yet), however we did seal an indian stone patio that we had geofixed and this seems to repel dirt and has not yet begun to deteriorate, it was sealed with a standard stone sealer, has anyone else tried sealing
geofix and if so what were the results.

[84-1093879891]

Which sealant did you use, Alan?

I've seen GeoFix that's been sealed with the Thomsons' "Patio Sealer" jollop, and it looks as though the sealant has shrunk the joint filler, but, as I didn't see the GeoFix before the sealant was applied, I can't be sure that it was the sealant that was responsible.

[alan ditchfield]

WE USED A PRODUCT CALLED RR. STONE SEAL (POROUS STONE GRADE) PRODUCED BY RICHARD ROGERS STONE LTD EMAIL info AT rrstone DOT co DOT uk THIS WAS DONE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF SHRINKAGE YET. IT ALSO BRINGS OUT THE COLOURS IN INDIAN STONE BUT ITS NOT CHEAP AROUND £30 / LTR

[84-1093879891]

I know the product. I was talking to RR himself at the Stone Show a couple of months back.

Incidentally, I edited your post to protects the email address you included. You should never publish an email address on any website without spam-proofing it. There are 'bots trawling the web looking for "summatt@summat.com" that they can add to their lists for inclusion in their next wonderful offer of manhood extensions, dodgy pharmaceuticals and loans from highly dubious US-based companies. Don't make it any easier than it already is for the spamming abstrads! :)

[alan ditchfield]

THANKS FOR THAT TONY I WOULD PROBABLY APPRECIATE IT MORE IF I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT BUT I THINK I GET THE GENERAL IDEA, BY THE WAY I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE SITE NOT MY USUAL THING BUT ITS NICE TO HEAR THINGS STRAIGHT FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR TRADE ARE CLUELESS(APPOLIGIES TO THE OTHER 20%) SPOKE TO RICHARD MYSELF (ON THE PHONE) SEEMS LIKE A NICE GUY TELLS ME HE HAS A CHEMIST WORKING ON A SEALANT JUST FOR INDIAN PAVING IF YOU ARE READING THIS RICHARD I AM STILL WAITING FOR YOUR EMAIL / REGARDS : ALAN.

[84-1093879891]

I'll email him and see if he's got anywhere, because he told me that tale back in February!

PS - knock off the Caps Lock key - typing in upper case is the interweb equivalent of SHOUTING! :)

[alan ditchfield]

Is that better, did you get anywhere with our indian stone sealer or is he an indian giver.

[84-1093879891]

Much better - and no reply yet from Richard.

I'm away at Interbuild tomorrow (anyone else going??) but if there's no reply when I get back on Friday, I'll give him a call.