Cement pointing is too grey

[krisclarke]

Hi,

I have recently patched-in an area on crazy paving in my garden, and think I have used the wrong sand (I was advised to use sharp sand and grey cement). The cement has dried but is pure grey in colour, whereas the existing pointing is a sandier colour. I don't think a dye was used originally, just a different type of sand.

A small area of patched in cement (about a month old) seems to be turning a sandy colour in small parts, so my question is does cement change colour over a long period of time (grey cement becomes more sandy?) I used a mix of 4.5 to 1.

If the answer is it won't change colour, I will need to dig it up and start again (I have been advised to use plastering sand next time), but if it may change colour over a long period of time (up to a year) I will leave it as it is.

Please could somebody help, as I don't want to dig it up if I don't have to.

Thanks,

 

[Thermo]

it will slowley weather in, but they probably used building sand or a combination of building sand and sharp

 

[krisclarke]

Thanks. I now need to decide whether to dig up the top inch and redo with plasterers sand, a lot of work if I don't really have to.

As I said, a small patch of earlier pointing is definately changing colour, but I think this was a slightly wetter mix, would this make a difference?

If the pointing was likely to change colour with weathering, am I looking at weeks or years to see any change?

Thanks in advance for any help given.

 

[Thermo]

youre looking at years. You do NOT want to use plasters sand. You want building sand. I would suggest you get it from somewher local, as the likelehood that is what was used before, rather than styff from national companies such as b and q

 

[krisclarke]

Thanks, I will try a few test using different sands, maybe mix in some White cement for a lighter colour?

One final question, What is the minimum depth I would need to dig out to relay new pointing, it's for crazy paving so some of the areas to be filled are quite large so I wouldn't want anything which would break easily underfoot, would an inch be deep enough?