Grouting paving slabs

[Vidal Baboon]

Hello,

I need some help in grouting my paving slabs in the Garden. I have tried sprinkling cement into the cracks & brushing the rest in- using a hose & spray gun wet the ground.

What i'm fining is the water droplets are too big & blow the cement out of the crack, leaving a poor finish.

I'm contemplating buying a ready mix (Sand & cement) to use & see if that gives better results to make the cement less brittle.


Can anyone give me some tips on how to get a better finish- short of employing a builder to do it!

Thanks in advance.

[JustinP1]

Just brush in sand, no cement.

Water can drain away then and you won't be left with puddles.

[rsstman]

its called pointing, just use sand and cement mix and a pointing tool, to smooth it off. might be good to leave a couple of drainage holes though.

[GreenDog]

If your slabs have been layed correctly drainage shouldn't be a problem as they'll slope ever so slightly away from the house.

[Vidal Baboon]

GreenDog said:

If your slabs have been layed correctly drainage shouldn't be a problem as they'll slope ever so slightly away from the house.

drainage was always going to cause problems as I covered up the only drain hole & I was laying on top of concrete.

So, put in a dry mix, then sprinkle water over it, go over with a pointing tool?

Or put in a wet mix & use a pointing tool?

Sorry for the dumb questions- I just spent the last week laying the patio & making step & don't want to spoil it now

Many thanks.

[mrmaggit]

You don't say how big the joints to be pointed are, but if it's of any help, Marshalls brought out a drymix, brush in and add water product. They've stopped selling it as it didn't do "what it said on the tin".

Either point them in the good old fashioned way, sand cement and water; or use the air-curing brush-in "Geofix" type stuff.

[LividSV]

They have that stuff at Wickes in Buff or Grey, just brush in and the air sets it, its quite pricey though IIRC £20 a tub

[Road2Ruin]

The way you are doing it will work but you are doing it wrong. The first thing you want to do is make sure the slabs have a good soaking and the ground has soaked up a bit of water. Then when the slabs are dry brush in with a stiff brush the dry sand and cement mixture. Then leave it do not water again. The moisture from the ground/air will be enough to set it off.

[JR]

Try Geofix.