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Gardening & Landscaping

indian stone slabs coming up -repoint or relay the patio?

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.31 PM

My builders has laid natural sandstone on our very large patio and around the swimming pool on a mix of 5 to 1 ratio sand to cement. He also pointed it with easy joint http://www.easyjoint.eu/. Since it was done in a frosty weather (or incorrectly) all the pointing has come out, the water has gone under slabs and it's very easy to lift each slab with a hand. Under each slab the mixture is very sandy and not hard like cement. Our old patio that we have had for almost 30 years was impossible to lift or to break! It was cemented. I spoke to another builder who told me that the new patio should be relayed entirely using a different mixture. However, the original builder is saying that all he needs to do is to repoint it, using the same material. I need an advice please! 1.Should the patio be redone with a different mixture or repointing it is enough for it to last for years? 2. If repointing is enough, should the builder use the same material (easyjoint) or traditional method? Thanks!

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7 Answers

The Garden Landscaper

Rating: 5 out of 5
Stoke On Trent
In my opinion the entire area needs re-laying on a stronger bed. It seems to me that the mix used is nowhere near strong enough and simply re-pointing this will not solve the problem. At the same time- any decent trader will no that you don't cement in freezing weather, it simply isn't done and will fail
Answered16 March 2016
4

Anonymous user

With what i have read here, mix he used was very weak. I personally for underneath slabs would want a ratio of 3:1 (3 sand 1 cement) And pointed with the same or maybe a 4:1 ratio. I would not under any circumstance use any sort of cement at any signs of frosty weather, this is a big NO NO I am afraid your builder is trying to get off lightly or has no clue what he is doing. Re pointing something does hardly anything for the structure. Re Pointing a patio/slabs will do not nearly enough as for the weight what will be on them, walking around them and the weight alone of the slab. If the slabs have come loose, the bed has failed, if they are Re Pointed with any mix, they will just crack and carry on moving the first sign of weight. I would lift the whole lot and start from scratch. Hope this helps, Luke @ LR Landscapes
Answered15 March 2016
2

Anonymous user

Its a relay for me. The mix was either not stong enough or too dry. any re pointing will crack I have just noticed this was a while ago and hopefully you have found your solution by now!
Answered26 September 2016
1

Anonymous user

In my opinion it has been done badly. 4/1 ratio mix is minimum you should use at ground level. Also was it a dry mix? Dry mix is not great for sandstone. A nice wet bed gets the suction you require. I too use easyjoint on all sandstone. As it expands and contracts at a different rate than concrete or mortar. Hairline cracks can appear between mortar joint and slabs. Therefore allowing water through adding to problems including weed growth. If slabs are moving that’s why easy joint has popped out. Or wasn’t applied correctly. The slabs should be heavily soaked before easyjoint goes in. I’ve personally had no problems using easy joint. My advice lift all slabs before they are damaged and relay on a wet bed of 2 parts sharp sand. 2parts building sand 1 part cement. Wet. Allow cement to go off for a few days. Then soak patio heavily with hose then brush on easy joint and compress with pointing iron. If mix was weak and heavily wetted in frosty weather this has probably washed cement away leaving just sand. No cement work should be done in these conditions whatsoever.
Answered27 August 2018
1

Anonymous user

Hi I’m from dels landscaping, I would of recommend a 3/1 mix as there Will be a lot of foot traffic around the swimming pool area, as for the jointing compound that should’ve been at least 25 mil deep and all joints cleared out so there is no debris or dust which will cause it not to stick, Plus it should’ve been gagged in each joint pushed nice and firmly into the joint
Answered4 February 2020
1

JKB Property Services

Rating: 5 out of 5
Milton Keynes
Most Indian sandstone is best to be primed before laying same as porcelain. 6 - 1 ratio with sharp sand. building sand is too soft especially around a wet area like a pool.
Answered22 May 2020
0

SMLANDSCAPING

No reviews yet

Newtownabbey
If cost isn’t an issue then yes lift and lay on a stronger mix also any landscaper with experience in jointing products would never choose a brush in product slurry is far better as it gets under ever nock and cranny and locks everything into place. If cost is issue remove all the easyjoint buy some ultrascape flowpoint or fjm streetscape and have contractor put this in someone that has done it before as it starts to set very rapidly- councils all over the country use this as it works.
Answered11 October 2020
0