Paving grout options

[Steve]

I've laid a path down the side of the house using sandstone. I laid them on a full MOT1 bed between 50-100mm, vibrated down and a full sharp sand 4:1 mortar bed varying from 20-30mm. Everything feels very solid. All the joints are 10mm and i used a slurry of SBR and cement on the back of every slab.

The stones are "Kota blue". See pictures. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. But it's now time to think about grout and sealing. I've laid everything now, the pictures are a week or two old. I'm going to do a long cut along the fence (it's not quite parallel with the house) and make a 6 inch border in gravel, glued down.



Clearly all the websites are pushing expensive resin based liquid and brush in grouts. I've read various reviews about these products and not sure i can justify the price tags.

Is there anything wrong with using a mortar and pigment to grout these slabs after I've used a sealer on them? Any recommended sealers? Recommended colours for these slabs? I know sandstone can stain easily but if i seal them first and wipe any mortar off with a sponge surely that will eliminate any staining.

Or should i just plump for the expensive liquid or brush in stuff? Is it worth it? I reckon I'll need two pots of it.

 

[aveatry]

I know someone with some sort of resin brush and hose in stuff and it is very course and collects grit and dirt and after it has rained and the slab xare dry the grout stays dark and wet looking all day.
I don't have nice slabs like yours but I use a wet mix of 2 sand and 1 sharp sand mixed with fibreglass fibres and some mortar waterproofer. I then mask off the slabs with bodge tape and fill the gaps. And then use grout waterproofer on just the grout when it is set. I put it into a small syringe and run it along the grout lines controlling the flow as I go.
Its a labour of love but looking at the work you have put into your slabs I think you will understand

 

[jj4091]

I used easyfix grout last year on some paving and had exactly the same results as aveatry descibes. But pressure washed last week nad it has all come up like new so hasn't put me off using it again.