Pointing problem.

bigwest · Post: # 69676Post **bigwest** Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:32 pm

Got a problem with the pointing on some setts we have laid. Basically the top couple of mill, look to have flaked off. We used a 3:1, sharp mix which I have used before and used this time as it matched some work carried out by other contractors on site.

Could it be the cold? We're in the South East so the evenings have been chilly but not exactly Baltic!

The setts were (against my requests) driven over by heavy lorries the day after being pointed - could this have done damage?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, the only thought I have is the nightmare of having to chop out the joints and start again.

cheers

ilovesettsonmondays · Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:36 pm

im in essex too and leave the house everymorn at ten to six . nothing wrong with weather m8 . wherebouts are you big

ilovesettsonmondays · Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:39 pm

whenever we laid setts in central london . we kept the road closed for 4 days after grouting.

bigwest · Post: # 69679Post **bigwest** Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:41 pm

This one was just outside Danbury in Essex, I can't see how it could be the cold as you say it's not been that bad at all. I'm sure I've pointed in lower temps with no problems.

So all I can think is that it was a problem:

- with the mix
- with traffic

ilovesettsonmondays · Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:46 pm

i would say time you let traffic drive on it

haggistini · Post: # 69681Post **haggistini** Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:14 pm

What method was used to point them with the 3:1

Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:59 pm

there were frosts last week in Hertfordshire and bedfordshire ,Wednesday and Thursday IIRC
sounds like they were trafficked too soon
48 hrs is minimum time for any mix to set and cure

LLL

Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1319410739

local patios and driveway · Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:09 pm

I had two mornings of frost here in gatwick, early last week, but nothing i would have been worried about. Going to lay setts on my own driveway in a months time so looking for all tips i can get myself

bigwest · Post: # 69698Post **bigwest** Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:58 pm

Thanks for the replies, I have asked if the damage is in particular areas or all over as this may help clear up if it was traffic or not.

Wish I could categorically say it was that or not, lovely client so very annoyed and frustrating that it's going to have to be chipped out and re-done. That's two days I have to magic form somewhere!

haggistini · Post: # 69699Post **haggistini** Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:04 pm

haggistini wrote:What method was used to point them with the 3:1

Method ?

digerjones · Post: # 69703Post **digerjones** Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:13 pm

i would say the traffic caused the problem

Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:09 am

I take it it was a wet mix?
sadly even a ground frost can take the surface off this
if it looks bad its a rejoint job
LLL

London Stone Paving · Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:04 am

Its got to be the lorry. Cement takes longer to go off in low temperatures and if a lorry was driven across it the next day it could have easily damaged the pointing mix.

Did you find out whether the damage was caused in just the areas where the lorry had been?

haggistini · Post: # 69712Post **haggistini** Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:48 pm

Was it pointed as slurry? If so how was it cleaned off ?

bigwest · Post: # 69725Post **bigwest** Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:00 am

It was a semi-dry mix I guess you'd call it, wet enough to hold shape if you hold it in your hand but not wet enough to stain the setts.

Standard method I have used for years for my pointing with no problems.

I would have liked to have used a slurry or a GTFK type polymeric brush in but the client wanted a peaked finish.

No word yet on whether it's all over or in one spot.