What base for a new patio?

[cookiewales]

Ok, so I'm planning to order Easipoint Std today - £272 for a 55sq m patio hurts, but I don't suppose Romex is much/any cheaper.

For my light/medium grey patio, I'm thinking dark grey pointing - any colour advice?

i think the romex is about the same price you could use the basalt sand good colour tone 5x25kg should do it nice job very well laid if you look at knutsford on my site and on tony's blog where s my maul scroll down tony took some very good pictures of it being used cheers cookie :;): :;):

[Triggaaar]

Thanks cookie

That job in Knutsford is wonderful. The darker joints help show of the pattern of those fans and circles etc. Also, with granite sets you wouldn't want to be jointing with an iron. But I'm not so sure with my flags - the easipoint method wouldn't take too long, and I can't help but think the blackish basalt is too dark? I'd like to just brush in the Romex easy stuff, but there seem to be a few problems with that soaking up dirty water (because it hasn't been pushed down into the joints).

If I'm reading your reply correctly (and wow are you neater at laying than writing ) you've said 'nice job very well laid' - thank you Although I guess the real test is whether it stays like that or I end up calling you guys to come and fix it next year.

[cookiewales]

Thanks cookie

That job in Knutsford is wonderful. The darker joints help show of the pattern of those fans and circles etc. Also, with granite sets you wouldn't want to be jointing with an iron. But I'm not so sure with my flags - the easipoint method wouldn't take too long, and I can't help but think the blackish basalt is too dark? I'd like to just brush in the Romex easy stuff, but there seem to be a few problems with that soaking up dirty water (because it hasn't been pushed down into the joints).

If I'm reading your reply correctly (and wow are you neater at laying than writing ) you've said 'nice job very well laid' - thank you Although I guess the real test is whether it stays like that or I end up calling you guys to come and fix it next year.

its not as dark when it tones down easypoint may be better for you have never been one for grammar but have laid a slab or 2 fix your rockers and you wont have any probs am sure just a tip for you for pointing half inch brush wet just the bottom and sides of your joint not the top of slab dont make to much pointing in one go and you will be fine :;): :;):

[Triggaaar]

Thanks cookie I appreciate the help.

for pointing half inch brush wet just the bottom and sides of your joint not the top of slab

Am I understanding correctly - you try and get the bottom and sides of the joint without getting the top of the slab wet? That sounds tricky.

Where I've laid the slabs a fair amount has buttered up the sides, so I'm going to have to scrape some out and hoover before pointing - which from reading other posts is a nightmare. Do I really have to make space for 20mm of easipoint along the whole of each joint?

[Triggaaar]

just a tip for you for pointing half inch brush wet just the bottom and sides of your joint not the top of slab

I started pointing today and have two questions:
What does wetting the joints do?
After striking and sweeping, it looks like the edges of the slab are stained - does that need to be washed off, or will that colour fade?

Thanks

[lutonlagerlout]

do you mean like this trig


if so its just the moisture from the pointing,it wil dry out naturally after a day or two

wetting the joints,especially on dry hot days like these improves the bond between the mortar and the stone

also its worth misting new mortar jointing an hour or 2 later on hot days like this to avoid cracking

not too much mind just to damp it a bit

LLL