Years of wear and tear have taken a toll on your back garden, and now, after a long and rainy winter, the state of your patio is more noticeable than ever. The grout between patio slabs has become loose, cracked and now weeds are growing out of the cracks.
Now, it’s time for a change. With the sun making its appearance once again, it is the perfect time to finally give your patio some attention. What better way to refresh your patio than to repoint the patio slabs?
What is repointing a patio?
Repointing your patio is an easy and cheap way to make your patio look brand-new once again but what does repointing mean? Repointing a patio means removing old grout and re-apply grout between patio slabs.
Who can repoint a patio?
Many people can repoint a patio – all you need is the right materials, enough free time (we would recommend a full weekend) and maybe a helping hand. Whether you don’t have enough spare time to complete this task or would prefer to get it done by a professional, our skilled team of tradesmen can undertake a variety of tasks to uplift your outdoors, from repointing patios to pressure washing paving stones and treating outdoor wooden furniture.
How often repoint patio?
There is no set rule on how often to repoint a patio or either when to repoint a patio. Different patio sealers will have different lifespans. There are many factors that will affect the lifespan of your patio grout, from weather conditions to how often you clean the patio and more.
The right time to repoint a patio will be when you have noticed that the mortar that held the slabs together has started to crack, crumbled away or is riddled with weeds.
What to use to repoint patio slabs?
There are a variety of ways to repoint patio slabs. Some of the most popular ways include:
- Repointing patio with cement
- Repointing patio with dry mix
- Repointing patio with resin
How to repoint patio slabs with cement.
Materials:
- Cement
- Pointing bar
- Mixing bucket
- Stirrer
- Trowel
- Soft brush
- Gun injection equipment
- Pointing trowel
- Grout rake
How to:
Step 1 – Pressure wash patio.
Clean the patio slabs to remove any staining, moss and dirt.
Step 2. Remove old pointing.
Use a grout rake to remove old pointing. Do this in between all patio slabs. Sweep away any residue and dirt. You can pressure wash slightly again to remove the remaining dirt and make the joints damp.
Step 3 – Create mortar mix.
Follow the product’s instructions on how to create the right mortar mix. With the help of a trowel, load mortar mix into gun injection equipment. You might choose to do it without a gun, use a pointing trowel instead.
Step 4. Push mortar inside the joints.
Push the mortar mix inside the slab joints. Any mortar that goes on the patio slabs can be wiped off with a clean damp sponge. Any extra bits of mortar can be brushed off.
Step 5 – Keep it damp.
Don’t let the mortar dry out too quickly. After you’ve pointed the patio, let it sit for a couple of hours (depending on the temperature). If you see the mortar starting to get quite light, make it damp with a fine mist of water using a hosepipe. The next day, make it damp again with a fine mist a couple of times a day.
How to repoint patio slabs with dry mix.
Materials:
- Cement
- Sand
- Grout rake
- Vacuum cleaner
- Trowel
- Broom
How to:
Step 1. Remove old grout.
Use a grout rake to remove old pointing. Do this in between all patio slabs. Sweep away any residue and dirt or use a vacuum cleaner to hoover any dirt or leftover residue more thoroughly.
Step 2 – Create dry mix.
Speak to a local professional for advice on the best dry mix ratio for your location. Mix it together until you have no crumbly bits of sand. You want to aim for a consistency that holds together when being squeezed. Use safety gloves when testing the consistency of your dry mix.
Step 3 – Push mix in.
Use a trowel to insert the dry mix into the joints of the slabs. Compact it down. Do this again until the mix is higher up and firmly compacted in. Use a brush to sweep any leftover dry mix over. Make sure to not leave any mix on top of the slabs as it might stain. Leave it to cure.
How to repoint patio slabs with resin.
Materials:
- Resin compound
- Grout rake
- Broom
- Vacuum cleaner
- Pointing trowel
How to:
Step 1 – Remove existing pointing.
Use a grout rake to remove the old pointing. Once this has been removed, clean the joints thoroughly. Use a brush to scrape out any debris and use a vacuum cleaner to suck out any old pointing that is stuck in the joints.
Step 2 – Soak the patio.
With a hosepipe, wet the whole patio and in between the joints.
Step 3 – Fill in joints and brush.
Open the resin compound bag. Turn it upside down and fill the joints with the compound. Use a broom to brush the mix inside the joints. Compact the mix using a pointing trowel. Brush it in and compact again. Hose it off in a mist as you go and brush off any extra resin.
If all of this seems like a bit too much – why not contact the professionals? Our experienced team will be able to transform your patio in a timely manner. Besides being able to pressure wash patios and repoint patio joints, our painters and decorators can also paint your home’s exterior and more. Give us a call today on 0800-0-12-12-12 or request a quote by filling our online form.
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