Very narrow joints! - The best thing to use for narrow joints

[Nik19]

I have a very large patio with slabs. It wasnt laid properly originally. The gaps in between the slabs is very narrow, in some places they touch. But we still have problems with so many weeds constantly. The joints seem to narrow to use a sand/cement wet mix. Any dry mix just doesnt settle enough to do much either. I dont want to spend too much money or redo the whole patio. the gaps vary in size, but the largest would be about 3-4 mm. I've just power washed the patio and weeds are gone but always have loads of mud coming up. Any suggestions.
Thanks

[Carberry]

There are pointing products for gaps that narrow but they are very expensive and I'm not sure how reliable they will be if the patio is poorly laid in the first place.

vdw 805

If you aren't wanting to spend much money you're only option is to sweep the patio regularly and occasionally pull out weeds / spray them.

[Nik19]

Thanks for that. I might try a mix of kiln dried sand and cement and sweep it in as much as I can.

[Mikey_C]

you could try putting a long term weed killer down (use to be sodium chlorate now something like ground clear), then KDS. As stated before you may well be fighting a losing battle. I don't think KDS and Cement will work but fancy it give it a punt.

[lemoncurd1702]

Nik, what type of paving is it?
I'm guessing it's a sawn edged product. Trouble with these is if it's random sizes when you butt two 300mm slabs next to a 600mm there is no joint. Butt jointed paving should maintain a gap of at least 3mm.
To get around this problem I run a disc cutter through the tight joints once the paving is set.
Regarding the jointing I have had success using Marshalls Weatherpoint, use lots of water to make sure the compound flows into the joint.

[Nik19]

HI, they're normal square slabs all the same size. The builder who laid it was inexperienced obviously. I was too at that time so I thought he knew what he was doing. I don't have a disc cutter I'm afraid. It would probably take for ever; my patio is 20ft x 12ft.
I would probably need a few tubs of those expensive compounds. The joints are so small that I don't think you could pour anything into it, you would need something dry. I may have to try the cheapest option of sand/cement mixture first. Thanks for all the advise. Better get off to B&Q!

[lemoncurd1702]

To be honest if the joints are that tight I would leave them fill naturally or just use kiln dried alone.

[KLS]

Post a pic or 2 it'll make identifying a solution easier.

If they are super tight then I second kds if not to tight, as it's not a huge patio look at one of the slurrys that would flow it.

[Nik19]

hi,
I didn't know how to upload a pic. It may be possible to use a slurry but only if it didnt stain. It would have to be something you can brush in. Do you know of such a thing? The gaps are about 1.5mm. I was going to use just KDS at first, but then read somewhere to mix in cement to make it stronger. Does KDS set hard? and will it stop weeds? Thanks in advance.

[Carberry]

hi,
I didn't know how to upload a pic. It may be possible to use a slurry but only if it didnt stain. It would have to be something you can brush in. Do you know of such a thing? The gaps are about 1.5mm. I was going to use just KDS at first, but then read somewhere to mix in cement to make it stronger. Does KDS set hard? and will it stop weeds? Thanks in advance.

Photo really would help, upload it to a photo hosting site like photobucket, flickr, even facebook then you link to the image from this site using the [img] tags.

KDS Doesn't 'set' like cement does, but it does compact and settle. It won't stop the weeds, it will provide a base for weeds to settle in though.

I wouldn't use KDS and cement. Joint stabiliser, ready mixed stuff though like
Resiblock

[Nik19]

I think I will have to use a ready mixed compound; I will try Resiblock
Thanks for that. Just waiting for a dry day!!:)