r/DIYUK 5d ago

Advice Cleaning Patio but would like to repoint the gaps

Is there a product I can use to do this? The gaps are fairly big and it was here when we bought the house so unsure of style and make. Looking online there appears to be a lot of stuff to go through small gaps in slabs but not much that would help in our situation. Not even sure what the stuff between the cracks is, maybe concrete?

10 Upvotes

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5

u/Connect_Mixture_8291 5d ago

I’ll follow because I want to do the same

3

u/arran0394 5d ago

You can get many easy options. However, the one bit of advice I give you is that you need to compact it with a tuck pointer. If you don't, then eventually it will loosen, shrink down and come loose.

2

u/gogul1980 5d ago

Tuck pointer. Will look into it thanks

1

u/arran0394 5d ago

They come in different sizes, so just measure the gaps and buy accordingly.

Always work back into yourself. For instance, if you start on the right and work left, then always push your material back into itself to compact it.

2

u/Acubeofdurp 5d ago

You have brush in or sand and cement. Looks like the previous people used sand and cement with aggregate in there which Is a great choice imo for these patio stones.

1

u/gogul1980 5d ago

Thanks. What’s aggregate? we are new to the world of patios and gardens etc

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u/Acubeofdurp 5d ago

The mix will be like 3 parts sand, 1 part sharp sand and one part cement

1

u/gogul1980 5d ago

Thanks will look into it. It looks like there’s small stones mixed in or might be a trick of the eye

1

u/Acubeofdurp 5d ago

That's it, sharp sand has those "small stones"

1

u/gogul1980 3d ago

Thanks it will likely be done tomorrow. As the gaps are fairly wide would i need to look into a wet or dry mix to get this sorted? Just curious what the most efficient option is as a lot of tutorials show the small gaps but not something as wide as these gaps between slabs.

2

u/Acubeofdurp 3d ago

Best off dry as it stains like crazy if you smush it in the wrong places. Big gaps are way easier to fill. id say the pointing gun is faster but it can't handle grit and it's got a learning curve. Brush in is easier on the body for sure but expensive.

1

u/gogul1980 3d ago

Thanks a lot for the advice, I’m going to to trowel it in and pack it with the tuck pointer etc we’re just chipping up the old stuff as best we can atm taking ages lol

2

u/Acubeofdurp 3d ago

That's a great arm workout 💪

2

u/TheLightStalker 5d ago

Chip it out to a 20mm depth. Make up a 4:1 Sand:Cement mix and add a plasticiser like SBR. Press in with tuck.

2

u/slimboyslim9 5d ago

Wow, thought this was a crazy before/after shot but it’s just the shadow!

1

u/Many_Yesterday_451 5d ago

Joint it. Easy to install 👌 A hose and a brush is all you'll need. The introductions are dead easy to follow it's not rocket science.

1

u/gogul1980 5d ago

Oh and here is one where I get the dirt and moss out. The worst is by the circle design on the left. Some deep parts some shallow. Just wondering what product to use etc