Page 1 of 1
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:19 am
by Parastou
Hi
Last summer we used Buf colour paving slabs for 100 square meter of the garden and bricks for the driveway. As the final work we covered the slabs and bricks with diluted cement to fill the gaps between them and protect them from movement and water. And washed it after one hour but it ended to a disaster! 
The colour changed! We tried to remove the grey cement with a brush and it didn’t work. This year after a winter and a lot of rain there is difference in the colour even in each single slab. So the area looks like an old pavement. Is there any way to colour it with the same material. Do you think that the cement colours that can be found in DIY shops can help us? I can send some digital photos.
Many thanks
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:03 am
by bobhughes
Only option is to try a brick acid solution. Ask at your local BM
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:11 am
by Parastou
Thanks Bob
Some slabs are paled, it happened even within some parts of one slab: buff, grey and lemon! Do you still think that still we should use acid wash? I think it needs both washing and making them as similar as possible in their colour. Not sure if it is the right thing to do and how to do this.
Regards
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:37 am
by Parastou
Hi Bob
By the way what is BM abbreviated for?
And do you think that we can claim the company from which we bought the slabs?
Thanks
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:43 am
by Ted
BM = Builder's Merchant (I would asume)!
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:52 am
by David Sarti
"... And do you think that we can claim the company from which we bought the slabs?"
Without wishing to sound unsympathetic; no.
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:40 pm
by bobhughes
I once knew a guy who applied plaster to his wall with a paint brush and made the most awfull mess. He tried to make a claim - first from the suppliers of the plaster (presumably on the grounds that the hadn't told him that you had to use a trowel), and then from his house insurance. Of course they both told him that he would have to pay for his own stupidity.
Everyone makes mistakes - we can all learn from them.
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:53 pm
by Parastou
I tried acid and bleach [ not mixed] last year on some slabs but it didn’t work. The problem is difference in colours : grey, dark buff, light buff, and some lemon! Even in one single slab there are different colours. I am looking for a way to colour them with the same material as the slabs are and seal them. Could you advise on this please?
Thanks
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:54 pm
by lutonlagerlout
the perils of DIY ???
what on earth made you put dilute cemnt on the slabs and bricks????
have you been watching" groundfarce" and their bullsh*t techniques??
keep drinking them pints of baileys tommy,the slabs will look straight
lol tony 
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:39 pm
by Parastou
Well I am from Iran where this is the last step for sealing and the slabs have such a good material that it doesn’t change them at all. We have done a lot of DIY jobs since we bought this old house in UK and now[ too late] we learned that different places on “earth� have different methods of building! Thanks for all replies however apparently it is late for us to correct it. We decided to wash the slabs with a patio cleaner and use a wet looking sealant, hope this one is correct.
Many thanks
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:57 pm
by lutonlagerlout
aha yes building techniques vary round the globe mate,the mortar they use in spain is very coarse but very very strong
i imagine in iran it would be a very hard type of stone so the cement wouldnt mark it too much
have you tried a high power jet wash (a petrol driven one?)
we had one once and it nearly broke my hand when i tried it out there first
good luck
tony