Newly laid patio - now I need to point!

[Tom Wilson]

Hi guys,

I'm a long time lurker but just signed up today. I recently laid a patio in the garden roughly 20m2. Laid on a 4:1 sand cement full bed. I now need to point but I'm really unsure on the best way to do this.

I'm fairly component at most DIY things but I've never done paving/pointing etc before.

I'm planning on using a 3:1 mix of sharp and cement then trowel into the gaps, compress and then smooth. My concern with this is the time it's going to take me. It's a big area and I don't want to spend weeks doing it. How long should it take?

I keep being told about resin based products but I have plenty of sharp and cement left so would rather use that.

Any advice would be welcomed!

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

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[John D v2.0]

You wouldn't use sharp and for pointing, building sand is best.
Coincidentally just got in from doing it, i did 4 to 1 sand and cement, with a little buff mortar dye, and enough water to let it stick together if troweled. But not so much it would wet the slabs.
Then just squeeze in the gaps with a couple of trowels and then use a jointing tool to squash it down.
Then you can sweep away any loose bits once they have dried out, and protect from frost and drying out for a couple of days.
Good luck, at first it's slow but you get quicker with practice.