Page 1 of 1
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 12:24 pm
by charltonkeston
Ok, I've been lurking on this site and picking the brains of better people than me for about 3 years now. Finally I got round to a back garden project of my own this summer.
I think I might have a problem but hopefully I might not.
Yesterday evening I got round to the finishing touches, the pointing. I used VDW 840+ and all was going amazingly well, then the heavens opened and continued to rain on and off to a lesser degree all evening.
My question is; When I get home from work tonight, will it be ok or am I digging it out and buying another 3 1/2 hundred pounds worth? The resin was all in place this morning but not hard but I'm wondering have I had the "glue" washed out of it?
If all is ok I will post a picture of it as I'm well chuffed with it and Tony did the layout and materials list for me, which was worth every penny and without it I would still be there look at the ground.
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 1:36 pm
by London Stone Paving
Excuse my previous comment. I mistakenly thought it was the 2 part you were referring to. My sales manager just dropped me a line to point out my mistake..cheers Chris
Chris found the following info on the 840+ Data sheet
“Prevent any access to the freshly grouted areas for at least 24 h. Protect
the freshly grouted areas from heavy rain and / or water
flows for at least 24 h. Final opening of the areas to full use
should be after 7 days curing. A physical mortar strength test
can always be carried out before the surfaces go into service.
Prolonged dampness during curing may cause some delay in
hardening or impairment in the ultimate strength.�
So according to the manufacturers advice the heavy rain could cause you an issue.
The excess water will definitely slow down the curing process at the very least. Hopefully it should be ok. the best thing is to leave it for a couple of days and see.
Steve
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:29 pm
by lutonlagerlout
I would say wait and see
as steve says it will go hard but maybe take longer
LLL
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:52 pm
by charltonkeston
It looks like it's going off ok now. Slightly less worried tonight.
I finished off the last bit this evening and that was also accompanied by rain. At least it wasn't raining as hard as yesterday.
Thanks to both of you for the advice.
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:23 pm
by kiteboy
Just used 840+ on my patio.....its only been about 3hrs but wow its crazy soft....can't beleive this stuff will ever harden....it just seems like sand
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 3:43 pm
by mickg
give it a chance
even though Tony Mc said 6 - 12 hours on this write up of the use of GftK 840+ in cooler weather it can take much longer
Pointing a patio using GftK 840+
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:33 pm
by msh paving
this time of year upto 24hrs is not uncommon MSH 
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 6:04 pm
by kiteboy
Cheers guys.....puts my mind at ease....just never used it before
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 6:15 pm
by mickg
it should be hard in the morning but wait until tomorrow afternoon for the surface to at least skin over and should be firm to the touch and not soft like sand anymore but can still be soft underneath and needs longer to fully set
in the winter it can take a few days for the surface to skin over but is not detrimental to the final finish which does set hard after a few days
you might find in the morning you might still have surplus grains of the jointing product still on the surface of the flags which don't always show when its still wet or damp, give all the paving a light brush over to remove them