Which pointing? - Money no object/one man job

[mickg]

flowpoint

[lutonlagerlout]

while we are on it Bob
i cleaned my patio with roger's jollop tonight
sodium hypochloride 1:1 with water and a dash of shampoo
dwell time 5-6 minutes

put it on with a sprayer then hosed off

it was as green as the valleys before so I am well pleased



the stuff i got was 15 % from a pool supply shop

btw notice how well the rompox has lasted? NOT

LLL

[goshawker]

Is there any specific reason why I should not use a sharp sand/ cement mix for pointing? I would prefer a lighter colour plus I am assuming that a sharp sand based mixture would be less prone to staining in comparison to the orangey building sand?

[Mikey_C]

get someone to do it for you mikey

LLL

trouble is, at this stage I can't see any tradesman wanting to take it on for the following

they can't offer any guarantees, because they didn't lay the slabs.

due to the hot whether eveyone worth their salt is now busy.

there is only one local contractor on here.

my track record with getting trades in is crap, you name I've tried it AND FAILED.

however if haggi, cookie, or yourself to name a few want the job give me a price and I'll consider it!

[Mikey_C]

Only down side looks commercial to some people

big ask, but I don't suppose you have got some photos of an indian sandstone patio pointed with flowpoint, so I can make up my mind?

[Mikey_C]

Is there any specific reason why I should not use a sharp sand/ cement mix for pointing?

no

[Mikey_C]

I would prefer a lighter colour plus I am assuming that a sharp sand based mixture would be less prone to staining in comparison to the orangey building sand?

it tends to be the cement content that stains the slab not the yellow/orange/redness of the sand.

[rimexboy]

Mine is Indian sandstone and done with sand and cement and its failing in places, it's been down 3 maybe 4 years I think, some slabs creek when you walk on them you hear a cracking sort of sound...

Feck knows what to do or use as LLL has also failed in places with rompox....

I done what was said by the guys I just don't know what's best for yer

[Bob_A]

while we are on it Bob..........

I've read your post Tony
All points noted.
Thanks

[Bob_A]

Is there any specific reason why I should not use a sharp sand/ cement mix for pointing?

no

I thought someone on here said that sharp sand would cause the pointing to be too coarse?
Perhaps someone can confirm?

[lutonlagerlout]

plastering sand,known as sharp sand in the dirty south works fine
flooring,grit or screeding sand is way too coarse
LLL

[goshawker]

Many thanks for your help and advice. I have decided to point with a mixture of silver & sharp sand with standard OPC as I want a lightish grey mortar.

The wife went to the builders merchants and picked up some silver sand. What she was given was kiln dried which looks very uniform in size.

Am just wondering if this is ok for pointing flags?

thanks again

Ivan

[r896neo]

Don't use kiln dried sand for pointing. It is a nightmare to mix because its so dry and its too fine for pointing. It even finer than building sand.