Dark pointing

[danfire]

I have just started laying my patio/path slabs (bradstone autumn green sandstone). I liked the appearance of the stained pointing shown on this site and intended to do the same. The advice on the site is to not attempt this in damp weather or better still wait till spring, this is not an option and I was hoping I could get away with pointing on a dry day and covering up with a groundsheet overnight. Don't want to stain and ruin my slabs, any advice appreciated. Thanks Dan

[Pablo]

Two options for you are either the likes of easipoint which goes off quickly or a polymeric slurry pointing like GFTK or Romex. If the forecast is dry and the temp is high single figures you'll be fine. Use a very light polythene to cover it if you must because it's cheaper and the thicker stuff has creases that can mark the pointing. Do not do the old adding dye to mortar trick it 's rubbish and fades quickly.

[lutonlagerlout]

easipoint is an option as they do dark colours where the colour is a pigment rather than a dye
hessian sacking is better than polythene as it keeps the temperature up,but you must let th e point ing get se t for an hour or so before you cover it
LLL

[danfire]

Many thanks, will Google the suggestions, slab layings going a bit slower than I expected, yesterday 16 laid, today 23 laid, at this rate should take about a 10 days to get them all down, looking good though.

[London Stone Paving]

Pigments are a complete waste of time. Easypoint do do a black one but it will dry more of a dark grey. Dont think I've ever seen a black pointing compound yet that stays black

[lutonlagerlout]

errr pigment cannot fade steve

my mate, steve T has a PHd in dyes and pigments and he tells me that dyes will always fade whereas a pigment cannot

I may have been wrong about easipoint's one but it is better than mixing dye in with your mix

i was thinking more of basalt sand which in itself is almost black

personally i prefer neutral colours, as its the stone thats the star not the pointing

LLL :;):