Repairing patio - in between patio slabs

[andrewaaa299]

Hello,

We have lived in our house since the summer last year. At the end of the summer i jet washed the patio and noticed that the filing between the slabs (not sure if it cement or lime mixture) The filling was eroded away / missing in places.

I have inlcuded some photos, one shows an area with all the filling between the slabs in place correctly:

Untitled

• andrewaaa299
• 18 Mar 2010
• 1

The others show where it is missing. In some places, the filling seems to have gone right away to nearly the base of the slab:

Untitled

• andrewaaa299
• 18 Mar 2010
• 1

Untitled

• andrewaaa299
• 18 Mar 2010
• 1

Can anyone tell me what i have to fill these gaps between the slabs with please?

Ps. the slabs look to be laid on a proper bedding with sand etc, it is just the gaps that i need to repair / fill.

Thank you!

Andrew

 

[Diyisfun]

Im waiting for a reply on this, I need to do mine.
Im guessing a bag of ready mixed, force in gaps dry & let natural moisture do the work.

 

[Thermo]

plenty of previous posts on this if you search down through the forum.

basically rake it out, use a damp mix of 1:3 or 1:4 of cement and building sand. ork it into the joints with a trowel or piece of feather edge. Then strike it off with whatever finish you want eg bucket handle. Leave it to go off then sweep off any excess with a dry soft brush.

Dont use ready mix and make sure you do it on a dry day or youll stain the slabs. If the slabs arent bedded securely then the pointing will break out again over time.

 

[Diyisfun]

Thermo, if you dont use ready mix dont you have to buy a bag of sand & cement, that you hardly use.

 

[Thermo]

bag of sand £2.00. Bag of cement £4.00 Total £6.00 Job done once and properly

bag of ready mix £3.50 falls apart and looks ****e. How much do you spend again in time effort and materials putting it right?

 

[Diyisfun]

bag of sand £2.00. Bag of cement £4.00 Total £6.00 Job done once and properly

bag of ready mix £3.50 falls apart and looks s***te. How much do you spend again in time effort and materials putting it right?

I know a couple of builders I will ask then for cement, the sand I will buy, tnks 4 advice.

 

[toftfield]

What is the tool called to rake out between the slabs? I saw a really good one once, like a thin strong blade with a small hook at the end.

=-------/

Can't find it again. Tried a few of the tool sites with a generic "rake" search but haven't found it.

 

[i_am_fubar]

I've seen weeders that kinda look like that. May be worth looking for 'patio weeders' or such.