Pointing crazy paving - Any tips for flush, mess-free pointing?

[kipper1066]

Does anyone have a good tip for pointing crazy paving so that the pointing is flush with the stones but not smeared over the edges?
I'm sure years of practice would help, but as a first-time crazy paver, I need all the help I can get! One thought I had was coating the stones' surfaces with something to prevent the cement sticking hard to the tops, making it easier to remove any excess cement afterwards???
Any advice appreciated - Thanks.

[lutonlagerlout]

use a stiffish mix and be very careful,pros like us can do it but we have years of experience at it
if your a novice it will take a lifetime
maybe give it an acid wash the day after if you have overun,but need fresh clean water on hand when using acid
cheers LLL

[msh paving]

crazy paving job I am doing at the moment 200m reclaimed yorkstone MSH

[msh paving]

this has been a very hard job getting everything to fit alot of cutting and hand moving and stacking,we lifted the 200m by hand stacked on pallets carted outa the way dug out reduced levals services drains etc,brought them back on pallets hand sorted laid ,laid on 5/1 wet to moist mix tapped down to line and leval, point with 3/1 sbr, moist to wet mix whole job has taken 8 weeks very time consuming point was very slow hard job to keep clean MSH

[msh paving]

lifting the old

turning the corner



just got steps to build now 2 weeks work to finish then if price is right we start on garden design MSH

[GB_Groundworks]

i like the job mark really nice and well done but being a groundworker i like your ripper tooth and tracked dumper more, did you buy the ripper or make it? that the 3 ton yanmar? 3 way tip or just back to front and does it have the reversible controls.

is the damp where the black transitions to the render? did you struggle to maintain the 150mm?



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1263589871

[msh paving]

Hi giles, bought the ripper for the 3tonner from evans and reid about 7 years ago was £200 then use it all the time so usefull i have one on the 1.5tonner too, the yanmar is a c25 had it 4 years very good machine straight tip, need some work on the body work brill machine,reversable seat but i have it facing back all the time, i have a 1 ton kubota track dumper for sale giles if interested...... MSH

[msh paving]

the damp is a bit of a issue , as the client chipped off the render and plasterers put bell bead on to where they thought ,we are below damp and the air bricks as its a timber floor, thats about all can be said... it was damp b4 we started but its dry now so must have done good ,,,,,,,,,,lol MSH

[GB_Groundworks]

it rare we work on narrow access jobs most of our kit is big haha , yeah did a job for 2 architects and they wanted the paving at the same level as the kitchen floor despite my complaints. they sorted the bco and we used a gravel border and tanked it. was a pain but the client is always right haha.

[msh paving]

iv not used in 18 months, so gota go... it will pay for florida this year .lol MSH

[lutonlagerlout]

nice work there msh
I am one of the complete idiots that actually likes pointing :;):
I repointed 70 m2 of crazy paving with "bird's beak" pointing
-^- like so ,mega slow but i like looking at stuff when its done right
regarding the dpc issue i had similar problems at home,if i dropped to 150 below then the patio would end up lower than the garden
i.e. a pond
so i kept it where it was 60 mm below,and have a nice 1:60 fall onto the grass
not one iota of damp
LLL

[mickg]

very nice work msh

just brings it home why I do block paving driveways and not the rear gardens and patios as much any more

[GB_Groundworks]

tony (lout) you're weird haha i hate pointing with a passion with the birds beak did you just do it with pointing trowel or fine tool or did you get like a finger trowel and cut a V out of it?

but back to the original question patience is the most important if you try and rush it you'll make a bugger of it.

then a stiffish mix, mix as usual then let go off for an hour or two should still be able to trowelable, it but it should cling to the trowel not run off like a wet mix used in bricklaying its very hard to describe in text haha.

we get the radio on get a piece on king span to kneel or sit on and point away helps if you have someone with you whos handy with a trowel then you can just banter all day and have a laugh, makes it go much quicker.



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1263634510

[ambient]

nice work msh you must have a lot of patience,
have you still got your little kobelco had ours pinched and looking for another one pm me if your thinking of selling

[Injured]

Excellent work there Hope you will post pics of completed job too.