Repairing old grouting between patio slabs - help please!

SandraScarlett

As poor ol' DH is now unable to do any jobs, due to ill health, it's all fallen to me. He refuses to have "A Man" in to do anything.

The patio is Cotswold Stone and was laid about 15 years ago, and there are some bits that have broken up, and others that have just disappeared. I understand that you can get something called a "grouting tool", and wondered if you can get cement in a tube, so you just squeeze it in the cracks, and then smooth it out.

Please don't laugh! I just want to find something that a female OAP can easily use. Any help, advise and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

xx

sooz

You want some of this

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Buff-Patio-Grout/invt/154002?source=123_4

They offer a couple of different colours, so check what colour you currently have before you buy.

From memory, the 'tool' the men used when they laid ours was an old bit of hose pipe, to give it a nice curve

Tucker

Sandra
There probably is something to squeeze the mortar in wet. If not, get on dragon's den quick...

The normal way to do it is to mix sand and cement and keep it almost dry. You may have to google the ratio, probably 6 parts sand to 1 cement or maybe a bit lower. Then brush it into the joints. Moisture is then drawn up into the mix which sets it. This prevents you making any mess of the paving as the excess dry mix can be swept off without staining.

Of course do this when the flags are dry.

vegasvisitor

We bought a bit tub of dry mix (also buff) from B&Q, I think it must be similar to the wickes stuff.

You just remove the old grout (could pressure wash and if it's starting to go then it may come out quite easy with a pressure washer. Also you could get a cheap trowel which I did for sort of spooning the stuff over the cracks, then I used a brush (dust pan and brush type) to brush it all along the cracks and move any excess along to the next part.

I did get a bit of muscle strain when I did it, on my backside from all the kneeling and reaching! I used a gardening kneeling pad as I did it.

It is easy, so you will be fine. You can also get a tool for removing weeds it's a sort of L shaped knife, that would help gouge out the old cement.

ormus

toolstation and screwfix sell an empty cartidge gun that you load up with your sand/cement mix etc...
refillable.

wallbash

see the other thread running
New Patio , Mortar breaking up

SandraScarlett

Thanks for all the info here, and for the PMs. I bought some of the Wickes stuff. A fit, handsome young lad said it was a powder that dried on contact with the air and I was best to decant it, and use a bit at a time, and dribble this into the cracks, using a jug, and brush any surplus off as I went along.

I asked if he was free, but he'd obviously spotted my bus pass! He did, however, kindly carry it jauntily to the car, as if it was a pound (sorry, half a kilo!) of apples. When I got home, I thought he'd added some lead weights, it was so heavy!

Anyway, I've removed all the loose bits, weeds, moss etc, and even hoovered it all, so now I'm ready to go. I'm waiting for a good forecast, something like the low 70s, dry, with a very slight breeze!

I'll let all you helpful people know how I get on. I've got the kneeling pads, gloves, goggles (!) and a bucketful of determination!

xx

SandraScarlett

I feel absolutely chuffed to bits with my new repaired patio! :j:j:j I found the Wickes Grout really easy to use, and filling a plastic jug with the stuff, and dribbling it in, gave me a lot more control than just sweeping it.

I patted it down, and although it's not perfect, it's a darn sight better, and safer, than before. It's all dry now, but we won't walk on it, or let the dog on it for another day, to give it a chance to get rock solid.

I only have one complaint and that is that "Buff", which I thought would be beige and would set off my Cotswold Stone slabs, is actually a salmon pink! Or does it become lighter?

But the more I look at it, the more I like it, as it is the same colour as the earthenware pots. I'm sure it's described in paint guides as "Tuscan", which sounds very posh!!!

Anyway, thank you a million times, for all your help, and if anyone else is thinking of doing it, well, if an ol' granny can do it - anyone can! :T:T:T

xx