The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:06 am**

Hi folks - new to this forum, but seems like a wealth of help and advice here. Can you give me the benefit of your wisdom please!

had an indian sandstone patio laid, specified I wanted dark grey mortar. Upshot is that the mortar is pretty patchy, but is mostly white rather than dark grey. Also, I feel the quality of the finish is pretty hashed looking. Photos are here: -
http://avarcher.net/garden
It did rain the day the mortar was laid, and was covered with tarpaulin.

The contractor is coming next week to discuss this with me, I'd appreciate some info/advice from the forum so as i know what to expect & potentially if there is a remedy. To be honest I don't fancy the upheavel of the patio being re-worked at only a few weeks old.

cheers,
Janice

Posted: **Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:23 pm**

Think you would have been better off with un-coloured mortar with those slabs to begin with, but that's a subjective opinion.

Did the contractor use a dye to create the grey look, or just a lot of cement (don't laugh - I've seen people try to sprinkle a little brick dust into a mix in the hope of making it look pink)?

In the second picture, there is evidently no colouring at all.

The only cure is to grind and chip it all out and start again, with the associated risk of popping the slabs off their base at the same time.

Alternatively, it will all mellow out with weathering over time and the contrast will become less noticeable than it is now. On the bright side, sandstone paving is supposed to look a bit rustic...

Posted: **Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:17 pm**

oh dear
the areas where the mortar has gone white is where rain has got to the mortar
2 options really
grind it all out and use rompox patio basalt == an almost black epoxy pavement mortar which will never discolour as the sand is basalt and naturally black
or leave it and let it weather in
there is NO way of getting the mortar a different colour now it has gone off
regards LLL

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:46 am**

Thanks for the advice here folks, at least I have some information to rely on and think about how to go forward here.

Appreciate the info and taking the time to reply to me.

cheers,
Janice

The Brew Cabin

Indian sandstone - mortar problem - Mortar discoloured