The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:44 pm**

Hi all
I'm new here but with a burning question! I had a patio laid some years ago using Stonemarket Millstone slabs and I've been very pleased with it. The only problem is that we have a lot of ant activity in various areas of the garden, and the little blighters regularly work their way through the mortar joints in the patio. The result is that the area gets covered with sand/cement dust around the edges of all of the slabs and gaps between the slabs where the mortar has been excavated. I keep repointing them (the joints, not the ants!) but each year the same thing happens again. All attempts to eradicate the ants using chemicals etc fail, but most pest control folk say that ants can never be totally removed anyway. My question is, therefore, what can I use to re-point my mortar joints that may be more resistant to these pests? I've tried packing new mortar in as hard as I can, but this tends to leave too sharp a finish on the mortar - a rougher finish looks better with these slabs don't you think?
Any suggestions would be very welcome - many thanks in anticipation!

Posted: **Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:16 pm**

have you got a picture richard?
ants should not be able to eat through 3:1 mortar thats gone off
something doesnt sound right?
cheers LLL

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:40 am**

sounds like your not doing a strong enough mix or not doing a wet mix so it sets hard

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:36 am**

lutonlagerlout wrote:have you got a picture richard?
ants should not be able to eat through 3:1 mortar thats gone off
something doesnt sound right?
cheers LLL

I'll try to get some pictures and post them on this forum - if it stop raining long enough!
Cheers!

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:51 am**

ambient wrote:sounds like your not doing a strong enough mix or not doing a wet mix so it sets hard

Hi Ambient. I have used two sorts of mix. One was a premixed type from the local DIY store ??? Since that didn't seem to resist the pests I tried mixing my own at 4:1 but tried not to make it too wet as I remember being told that wet=weak. On the other hand, I guess a mix that is too dry doesn't stick too well either . . .
I did wonder about going to a 3:1 mix, or whether there is anything I can add to the mortar. As I'm only an amateur, it takes me a long time to re-point these areas so I'd like to try to get a more permanent result!
Cheers

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:10 pm**

Did you really do a proper 4:1 or just guessed with shovel fulls?

If you use a bucket and fill it four times with sand and do one bucket full of cement, you will be surprised how much cement is there.

Unless the ants have chisels , they will not get through that.

Posted: **Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:44 pm**

^^ as carl says its very easy to overfill shovels with sand
whereas cement always tends to be on the tight side
LLL

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:50 am**

its a wonder they have any teeth left :laugh:

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:34 am**

can i hire them and do they have a utr number need to chop out and re point some yorkies, and these boys sound like a good little work force. benefits will included loads of sugar.

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:24 pm**

GB_Groundworks wrote:can i hire them and do they have a utr number need to chop out and re point some yorkies, and these boys sound like a good little work force. benefits will included loads of sugar.

They want to know what holidays they'll get :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:29 pm**

I found this link for you GB Groundworks

http://www.anthire.co.uk/ :laugh:

The Brew Cabin

Ants have eaten my mortar joints!