Have laid about 50m2 of Marshalls Saxon paving. It's made up of roughly even numbers of the 300*300, 300*600 and 600*600, all 35 depth.
As the pattern is mixed the joints vary in width from, say around 4mm to about 7mm as there are 3 joints in the same space as 2 joints, eg 2 300*300 along side a 600*600.
I laid about 75mm of MOT Type 1, wacca'rd that down than have gone for the 'blobs' technique, around 50 mm deep and a 1:60 fall away from the house.
This gives a lot of pointing if I were to do it by hand (rather than brushing in). I have looked at GeoFix, but that seems expensive.
What would you suggest?
PS. fab site :)
Best method for pointing Saxon paving
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84-1093879891
For a start, I suggest forgetting the bloody stupid 'blobs' idea. It's the best way to bollocks up a pavement.
Saxons, and other textured flags, are notoriously awkward to point because of the shot-blasted surface which mortar loves to cling to. The best way I've found is to use generous quantities of mortar to butter the receiving edges, which is squeezed up as the flag is laid, and then the excess can be removed and the joint 'struck' with a pointing bar without making too much mess.
Alternatively, use a buttered joint that doesn't squeeze out any excess when the flags are laid, but then brush in a dry sand&cement mix more or less immediately, so that it draws moisture from the buttering mortar. Use the pointing bar to ensure the joint is fully packed with the dry mix, before striking it as per normal.
Saxons, and other textured flags, are notoriously awkward to point because of the shot-blasted surface which mortar loves to cling to. The best way I've found is to use generous quantities of mortar to butter the receiving edges, which is squeezed up as the flag is laid, and then the excess can be removed and the joint 'struck' with a pointing bar without making too much mess.
Alternatively, use a buttered joint that doesn't squeeze out any excess when the flags are laid, but then brush in a dry sand&cement mix more or less immediately, so that it draws moisture from the buttering mortar. Use the pointing bar to ensure the joint is fully packed with the dry mix, before striking it as per normal.
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77-1093879620
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84-1093879891
I didn't realise the job was more or less finished.
That being the case, you can either take your time and very carefully point them with a standard mortar, or you can use a dry sand/cement mix and hope for the best, or you can get one of the pourable jointing compounds and pray that you don't spill any on the surface. There are also some "Pointing Guns" on the market, but, to be honest, I don't have a lot of faith in them for this type of work.
GeoFix would work (of a fashion) as would other polymeric jointing compounds, but, as you've realised, it ain't cheap, and, as you've relied on the awful spot bedding, then there's a lot of voids underneath the flags into which the very expensive GeoFix will flow before it starts to fill the joints! :(
That being the case, you can either take your time and very carefully point them with a standard mortar, or you can use a dry sand/cement mix and hope for the best, or you can get one of the pourable jointing compounds and pray that you don't spill any on the surface. There are also some "Pointing Guns" on the market, but, to be honest, I don't have a lot of faith in them for this type of work.
GeoFix would work (of a fashion) as would other polymeric jointing compounds, but, as you've realised, it ain't cheap, and, as you've relied on the awful spot bedding, then there's a lot of voids underneath the flags into which the very expensive GeoFix will flow before it starts to fill the joints! :(