Concrete mix for pointing patio

[canetoad]

Hi,

I've had a new patio laid, which is only 3 months old and when O hosed it off the other day some of the pointing has crumbled and come away. Not impressed! Anyway, I wanted to know what the best mix of sand (sharp or soft) and cement would be to replace it? Pavers are Indian limestone apparently.

 

[SUPERSLASHER]

I have found the best mix for pointing any slabs is 2 sharp sand 2 building sand and 1 cement with 2 capfulls of pva neat i use febond. Mix up sand and cement dry and when ready to put water in add the pva. Make sure you do not put too much water in or you will stain the slabs. Then you can start to point in. I always chop it in to the joints with a gauging trowel do about 5 meters and then come back and stripe it up with a small tool. Leave to go off and then brush off with a soft brush.It will not crack or shrink back. S/S

 

[noseall]

I have found the best mix for pointing any slabs is 2 sharp sand 2 building sand and 1 cement with 2 capfulls of pva neat i use febond. Mix up sand and cement dry and when ready to put water in add the pva. Make sure you do not put too much water in or you will stain the slabs. Then you can start to point in. I always chop it in to the joints with a gauging trowel do about 5 meters and then come back and stripe it up with a small tool. Leave to go off and then brush off with a soft brush.It will not crack or shrink back. S/S

great advice....except the pva bit?

do you mean plasticiser?

 

[SUPERSLASHER]

No i never use plasticiser in pointing mix only in rendering. I have found that febond pva is the best in pointing mix. Never any come backs with it so i stick with what i know will work. S/S

 

[noseall]

No i never use plasticiser in pointing mix only in rendering. I have found that febond pva is the best in pointing mix. Never any come backs with it so i stick with what i know will work. S/S

i can not see the benefit of the pva?

enlighten me please....

 

[SUPERSLASHER]

I always use pva when pointing INDIAN stone and smooth sided paving as the pointing sticks to it a lot better when pva is added you dont get any hair line cracks along side the slab/pointing. With the plasticiser it does not seem to take to the slab in the same way as the pva .I suppose it is what i am used to useing as well S/S

 

[Alastairreid]

Makes sense to me .............will try your method out....(in the spring)

 

[noseall]

...So the pva helps deal with shrinkage?

 

[canetoad]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

 

[SUPERSLASHER]

Sorry noseall for not answering your question earlier but yes it is to do with the shrinkage. S/S