Granite paving laid in 2009 - advice

[XTA]

Attached links to images show granite paving we had laid in 2009 so its now 5 years old.

Some areas have darkened considerably and some slabs seem to have darkened around the edges.

The contractor used Geo Fix to grout it back in 2009. Quite a lot of it is now loose and coming out of the gaps so were going to remove all the Geo Fix, clean out the gaps and then regrout them.

Can someone advise what will be the best product to use to regrout it ?

Secondly is there any way we can restore the surface finish of the granite to an as new uniform colour finish bearing in mind the stuff in rock hard.

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get....MJTqzTw

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get....RY7yb6g

[mickg]

cant see the photos, I get the following error message

Error (403)
It seems you don't belong here! You should probably sign in. Check out our Help Center and forums for help, or head back to home.

[XTA]

thats odd if you click on links the photos should open up in a new window

[KLS]

Even when im signed into dropbox the same message is coming up. try flicker or similar.

[XTA]

try this link .........


http://postimg.org/gallery/aiu2z7jg/

[lutonlagerlout]

are those pictures the most recent?
it looks pretty tidy to me,nice installation bar the <puke> geo-£$%^

maybe have it professionally raked out then cleaned

sand and cement is a good option with easipoint or larssen being very good

for a slightly cheaper option weatherpoint 365 but you are back to polymerics albeit a very good one

top end resins romex D1 or gftk 850 are both commercial grade

cheers LLL

[XTA]

yes pictures taken 2 days ago.

we can take out and clean thoroughly ourselves

thank for recommendations, think we going to go with the weatherpoint 360 its sensibly priced and easy to use

[Tony McC]

GeoFix lasted 5 years? Isn't that some sort of record? Should we be contacting the McWhirter boy from Guinness Book?

Weatherpoint is just another polymeric. It's better than the GeoFix polymeric, but then almost everything is. If you want a seriously good resin mortar, then you need one of the slurries such as those mentioned by LLL.

On a re-jointing project in Cheshire a couple of years back, we used the 850 and it's worked wonderfully well, despite being blasted to buggery and back every week by the cleanliness-obsessed gardener repsonsible for the grounds of this cottage.

See for yourself

[XTA]

hmm ......ok think we may take the trouble to go with the 850, whilst it will cost a lot more it will be worth it in the long run so money well spent.

Would still appreciate any ideas how to freshen up the surface of the granite ........ FYI we did a small test, we worked brick acid into the surface of one slab with a wire brush for 10 mins then hot steam cleaned it and it did not make a bit of difference........... gut feeling is we would have to physically remove some of the top surface (shot blast of grind ??) but I suspect that's not going to be feasible ??

[higgness]

Is it me or is there some picture framing around the granite?
Stop using the brick cleaner, until you get proper advice on it.

Somebody should recommend a good cleaner for the granite...

Rodger from R & A???

[XTA]

yes a black slate picture frame around the granite.

we only used the brick acid as a "test" on "one" slab ....its nasty powerful stuff ..... but it had no effect at all