Pointing granite setts - Trouble with staining - alternatives?

[Gray646]

Hi there,

First time user so hope I'm doing this right.

I did some granite sett work the other day and it all went swimmingly until in came to the pointing. I've always pointed paving with a dry mix of 2 parts sharp sand: 2 parts building sand: 1 part cement, well compacted in and finished with a pointing iron and never had any problems. This time though no matter how dry the mix was, it seemed to instantly stain the setts the second it touched them. Are granite setts just particularly absorbant? Was I naive to even attempt it this way?!

Since then been looking at some alternatives but have a few reservations:

Sweep in pointing grout eg. 'Pavefix' - the stuff that comes in a bag and goes off once exposed to air - not sure if this is actually decent stuff - does it end up just flaking out after time?

Pour in style pointing methods, eg. 'Settpoint' - I feel like I'm destined to end up getting it on the setts and making even more of a mess?

I'd probably be more comfortable doing it with sand/cement if possible but need to avoid that staining again!

Phew! that was long, thanks for taking the time to read this, any answers much appreciated

Graham

[msh paving]

read me,i'm all about romex joining products

read me, im all about gftk products

read this info you wont go far wrong using one or the other

MSH

[ilovesettsonmondays]

it all depends how big an area you are doing .we use the cleaning machines on bigger areas and use easipoint grout .or we hand point .when we done china town in the west end every sett was handpointed .it all boils down to time and cost at the end of the day.

[Gray646]

Many thanks for the responses - I think I'm going to give the Romex a try once I find a local stockist.

Much appreciated,
Graham

[Mikey_C]

search previous thread for romex ray, he the uk man for romex and will be able to tell you where the suppliers are/sort you out direct.

[Gray646]

Riiiight, so I got in touch with Romex Ray and he told me where I could get the stuff - seems you can't just walk into a store and buy it though - not in Berkshire anyway.

But damn it's expensive with the delivery! I've just paid about £180 for 4 tins which is what I was told I'd need to do 6 square meters of setts which isn't massive. AND if anything I'm worried that it still won't be enough given that some of the joints are about 70mm deep, so rather than just keep throwing Romex shaped money at the problem, I was hoping to just sweep some sharp sand into the joints prior to Romexing to bring them all up to 30mm deep so I can just finish with the Romex.

I don't want to bodge it though - does anyone see a problem with doing this infill layer of sharp sand? It fills the joints nicely/easily and doesn't stain the setts.

Cheers,
Gray