Patio grout gets soft when wet?

[georgeca]

Hi all,

I had my patio installed a couple weeks ago and the landscaper used a grout which he brushed in. The problem is everytime is rains the grout seems to gets soft and I can scrape bits out with my finger - Is this normal? I also noticed one of the slabs (limestone) seems to have cracked, which wasn't there the other day and nothing has been dropped on it. What could cause this? There hasn't been any ice or frost, just sun and rain.

Thanks!

 

[Mike13]

It has cracked because the landscaper used 5 dabs of concrete so they can disappear with your money faster. chances are you can just pull the cracked one up with your hands...

https://cdn.diynot.com/data/xfmg/thumbnail/103/103541-875b9dd9782843e079577689f0c34f3c.jpg?1652772846

Those slabs could be lifted by hand, no crowbar required.

 

[georgeca]

It has cracked because the landscaper used 5 dabs of concrete so they can disappear with your money faster. chances are you can just pull the cracked one up with your hands...

https://cdn.diynot.com/data/xfmg/thumbnail/103/103541-875b9dd9782843e079577689f0c34f3c.jpg?1652772846

Those slabs could be lifted by hand, no crowbar required.

Not sure what you mean? It's just a hairline crack, nothing like the picture you linked

 

[Blokky27]

The picture Mike has linked is what is likely under your slabs. Using dabs means there are effectively a few blobs of concrete under each slab, which means if you step between the blobs there is no support = extra stress on the slab which leads to the crack. The blobs are easier cheaper and faster to lay, but clearly not the way it should be done.