flexible pointing?

Heedtheadvice

Seeking any ideas to rectify or work around a problem at the top of a set of steps that are built using concrete 3' X 2' slabs.

I have a problem that the pointing between some slabs keeps disintegrating/cracking after frost due to water ingress in a crack between pointing and slab. The crack is evident seasonally and I am certain is is owing to dissimilar foundations where steps have been widened. The foundations are tied together well but maybe there is slight movement at the outside edge owing to wet or dry conditions.

Obviously there seems to be movement between the two sets of foundations (however slight) and the ideal cure would be to rebuild with a better more stable single foundation but that is a fairly big job.

The crack is really quite small, a fraction of a millimeter to half a millimeter at worst in a 10mm joint between two concrete slabs at the top of the steps and negligible at the bottom.

Is there anything that I could use to repoint that would allow that amount of movement yet still be strong enough to withstand foot traffic?

daveyjp

Would a flexible weatherproof silicone sealant do the job?

Ainsley1

It would fill the gap and be very flexible but I wonder if it would withstand the wear and tear of foot traffic.
Thanks for the idea though.

On second thought might be ok for a covering seal using clear stuff for a while......

Heedtheadvice

Thanks both for the suggestions.
I expect silicon would stand out like a sore thumb and not really last that long outside on what is similar to a floor area!

I was really looking for something that looks very similar to normal mortar. Sorry I did not mention that in my original post.
Ihave heard there are resins now. Would they fit the bill?

daveyjp

You can get flexible fillers in a wide range of colours.

It is used in expansion joints in paved areas where thousands walk every day, in stadiums and factories floors because it doesn't wear out.

Heedtheadvice

That is great news. Probably just what I am looking for!

Can you recommend any in particular, Davey? I have had a quick search and Tourpret Touprelith comes up frequently (not that a result like that is necessarily a good thing!). It seems expensive but for just a small amount could well be worthwhile.