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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:06 pm
by Dougnloz
Hi all, long time paving layer, first time poster. I laid a large sandstone patio in July and August of this year. The pointing method we use is to press in a damp mix and "troweling" off with a brush handle. We always point on the same day as laying so that it bonds to the solid mortar bed. It gives a lovely solid finish and we've never gad any trouble. But this patio was laid in particularly hot dry conditions and some of the pointing has since shrunk a little, leaving a 1mm crack down one side of the pointing joints.
I'm thinking of trying to fill the cracks with a resin based sealer or joint stabiliser before the weather gets in. Any opinions or advice?
Doug.
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 6:28 pm
by r896neo
There's no short cut here... I doubt any sort of attempt at a fix won't last properly.
Out with the grinder 
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
my thoughts too...
shrinkage cracks can happen to the best of us
but theres no quick fix
LLL
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:08 pm
by Dougnloz
Oh bother, or words to that effect. Not what I wanted to hear. It's an 80sqm patio so I'm going to have to try a couple of things before I bankrupt myself repointing it. I'll let you know if I get any success.
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:25 pm
by lutonlagerlout
Doug no disrespect mate but its 2014
a brush handle??
marshalltown 81 brick jointer or pointing trowel all the way
cost very little and make life easier
LLL
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:20 pm
by TheVictorianCobbleCo
If the cracks are not extensive its quite feasible to pay a days wage to chop out that grout with a hammer and suitable width chisel or screwdriver. It tends to come out quite easily. (Its fairly common here in Cape town with our hotter weather) There will be a variation in grout colour for a few months but it should fade to an acceptable level within months.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:28 am
by Simon@Pristine Pathways
Do you guys add any additives to your pointing mix? we usually mix in SBR and never have any problems.
Simon
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:40 pm
by GB_Groundworks
good idea to cover it in really baking sun like you would concrete
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 5:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
if its a hot day I would always mist the pointing during and after its done
officially you are supposed to cover pointing with damp hessian on hot days but not sure of the practicality of this
LLL
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:11 pm
by mike builder/landscaper
If it's hot weather and we know we are ready for pointing up, we always give the Indian stone a thorough soaking the nite before, to stop the flags taking the moisture out of the pointing mix to quickly, just a little tip to pass on to anybody that's interested.