Pointing options for sandstone - Mortar or gravel?

[Adrwilliams]

Another question:

Cant decide on pointing method.

I'm going for Indian sandstone (riven or sawn....cant decide)

bedded on 6:1 grit sand /cement + SBR plus SBR slurry.

POinting options:

1 Resin bound gravel - I really like this idea, but has anyone used it? - any advice???

2 Loose fine gravel / small pebbles - could this be a problem with holding water etc?

3 Mortar - either resin or traditional - least favourite option...

Any advice to help me make up my mind would be much appreciated..... hopefully, someone can advise me on the use of resin bound gravel.....

Thanks again!

[r896neo]

I think you are mixing up terminology. Resin bound gravel is a surface finish intended to large areas. It is not commonly used as a pointing material and i have certainly never seen or even heard of it used in that way.

Resin based mortars are used for pointing and so perhaps thats what you mean although you also mention resin mortars.

The pebbles is a bad idea if your laying the paving in a conventional manor.

Resin mortars are very easy to use and so would be a good choice.

[Adrwilliams]

I think you are mixing up terminology. Resin bound gravel is a surface finish intended to large areas. It is not commonly used as a pointing material and i have certainly never seen or even heard of it used in that way.

Resin based mortars are used for pointing and so perhaps thats what you mean although you also mention resin mortars.

The pebbles is a bad idea if your laying the paving in a conventional manor.

Resin mortars are very easy to use and so would be a good choice.

Hi and thanks.

Yes - we are both thinking of the same products - I'm perhaps confusing matters by suggesting a non conventional use for them....

I've seen the resin bound gravel used as a surface finish and thought that it must so resilient and tough that it would work as a joint pointing material, if the joints are wide enough.

Can you see any reason for not using it?

I've seen paving joints infilled with loose gravel and thought it looked effective (and easy to do!!!) so I thought that the resin bound gravel might be an even better option - what do you think?

[lutonlagerlout]

completely wrong adrian
you will have resin all over your flags and bits of gravel
2 completely different types of resin in use here mate
you need one for pavements
LLL

[r896neo]

For a start you'd need really big joints of 20mm plus and also more importantly as luton says you will end up with resin on your flags which will be impossible to shift.

[Tony McC]

If you want wider-than-average joints filled with a decoartive gravel, there *are* ways of achieving it without smearing the binder resin (which is NOT the same resin used with resin mortars) all over the vulnerable surface of the paving.

The way I'd do it is to mask the edges of the flags with Duck Tape or similar, then fill the gap (can't bring meself to call it a joint as it would need to be at least 25mm wide) with the resin bound gravel which, ideally, should be at most one-third of the width of the gap - so 8mm gravel *max* for a 25mm joint, 10mm *max* for a 30mm joint, etc), tamping it down and trowelling it with a spirit-washed float as you go.

You must ensure that NO resin or resin-bound agg makes contact with the flag surface because, even if you get the white spirit on it immediately, the p[rosity of sandstone sucks it in faster than you can get the cap of the bottle, and it will leave a permanent mark.

I've seen this technique used on show gardens in competition, and I've even seen it done with unusual 'aggregates' such as steel washers, and there's no doubt it looks good, initially, but it always strikes me that it is the ideal home for the inevitable garden crud which leads to weeds and increaed levels of maintenance.

Some photies here

[Adrwilliams]

Thanks again - some interesting points (no pun intended....) would the general concensus be to go for resin mortar then?

[lutonlagerlout]

oh yes!


LLL

[Adrwilliams]

Sounds good to me then! Thanks all!