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Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:13 pm
by flock67
Hi, new user here looking for some help. two pronged question actually. i'm going to be laying a sandstone patio, and as it's my first time ever, it's probably gonna take me a while - especially as i only have weekends and i'm laying 38sq m. My question is this - do i need to start grouting every 2-3 days despite only having laid a small area? will there be a difference in the grout colour if it's done on different days, or can i just grout the whole lot when i'm finished - probably about a month!
Sorry sorry sorry - i mean pointing!!
My second question is to do with bedding mixes - i have looked on the site and can't find the answer. i'm laying on an existing concrete base - do i still use a 4:1 mix, or is it something else.
Many thanks for taking the time to read - hope someone can help.
Stephen
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:15 pm
by Stuarty
I think you would be better pointing it in one go, you more times you make up different batches, the more likely they will be slightly different, resulting in different shades of gray.
Id still use a 4:1 
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:33 pm
by flock67
Many thanks for that, much appreciated. At least I now know where I am going!
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:01 pm
by flock67
sorry - been having a think about this. Is it not a problem that if i leave the pointing any longer than 3 days, then the bedding mix will have gone off, and my pointing will have nothing to bond to? i understand your advice from the point of view of using the same batch for pointing consistency, but is this more important than pointing before the bedding mix goes off - apologies for still being confused!
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:16 am
by lutonlagerlout
it all depends what type of bedding mix you are using,
stuarty is right best do all the pointing in 1 hit be it 3 hours or 3 days later
dont leave it too long or you will get water in the joints which will noise up your pointing
cheers LLL
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:45 am
by Rich H
As you are likely to be doing this over a long period of time, the joints will get grubby and (as people do) people will walk on it and risk popping the bond of the slabs.
If you have a leaf blower, it's ideal for clearing out the joints before you start. You don't want dust, soil, leaves, insects etc in there.
Don't worry about the bedding layer going off. If you push the semi-dry pointing mix in nice and hard (it should take ages if you are doing it properly) it will go off a treat. Good luck, laying sandstone for the first time is a bit of a learning experience!
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:54 am
by SUE @ EASIPOINT
Hi
Suggest you look at our website www.easipoint.co.uk.
The pointing material is factory blended, packed in 25kg sacks, needing only the addition of water. so the mix will be the same colour every time.
The gun application also speeds up the process!
Sue
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:55 pm
by flock67
Brilliant - thanks to all of you. the paving arrived today, and i started asking myself if i was mad or not. sure it'll be fine though. thanks again.