Products and guidance for filling gaps between paving stones, patio tiles, blocks, cobbles and setts.

PAVING AND PATIO CEMENTITIOUS, RESIN AND HARDENING JOINTING SANDS AND COMPOUNDS

Things to consider before you start your project:

What are the paviours / flags / stones / setts laid on?

What will the paved area be used for?

Will vehicles have to drive over it or park on it?\

Do the joints need to be permeable? Does water need to seep through the joints or can it run off to a drain?

HOW HAS YOUR PATIO OR DRIVEWAY PAVING BEEN BEDDED?

There are two main types of bedding systems – flexible and rigid bedding.

In a flexible system the blocks / paving are laid on a bed of cement-free aggregate and are not bonded to the blocks. Only the blocks around the edge are fixed down to form a rigid perimeter ‘frame’ and hold the rest of the blocks in place. This enables the system to flex allowing it to tolerate loading and vibration. If a rigid jointing material is used, whether that is cementitious, resin-based or other, it will crack and break as the bedding still allows the paving to flex and the jointing will be trying to prevent this. Instead, loose silica sand should be brushed into the joints between paviours / blocks, allowing the joint to flex as well. This is the traditional way to bed blocks and it works well as long as the perimeter blocks keep the whole system in place. If blocks on the perimeter come loose the sand jointing can escape, blocks can slide out of place, bedding can be washed out, progressively loosening more and more paving.

Ultrascape Premjoint Coarse and Ultrascape Premjoint Fine

Sometimes paviours and stone flags can be seen laid ‘dot and dabbed’ where cement mortar is dotted on the underside of slabs and placed down. This is not a good way to lay paving because it leaves voids between the mortar dots where the slabs are unsupported. If a load is applied to the paving, for example a heavy planter is placed down or vehicle drives over it, it is likely to crack break off the unsupported paving, particularly on corners or edges of slabs. Furthermore, when it comes to filling the joints between blocks, unless you are using a very stiff mortar mix, the majority of your jointing material will escape into the voids instead of filling the joint.

When the paviours are fully bedded on a cementitious bedding mortar which bonds them in place, they are part of a rigid system. The bond between the can be strengthened by applying a slurry primer to the block or slabs before placing them on the mortar bed. As long as the slabs are fully bedded, a brush-in/ wash-in/ squeegee/ pumped-in jointing material can be used.

HOW WILL THE PAVING BE USED?

If your paving is likely to be trafficked by vehicles, whether it be parking a single vehicle on a driveway, occasionally crossed for access or on a busy highway, the sub base and jointing system will need to be designed for this. The heavier the traffic in terms of both volume and vehicle size the more robust and in general thicker the sub based build-up needs to be. You will also need to check that the jointing material can withstand the amount of loading / traffic anticipated.

PERMEABLE PAVING JOINTING MATERIALS

If your patio or paved area is going to rely on water soaking away through the paving joints then the jointing material must be permeable, as should the bedding mortar, which is even more important the larger the paved area is. Designing the paving so there is a gradient so water can run-off to drainage runs connected either to mains surface water drains or a soak-away should be considered.

WET BRUSH-IN / WASH-IN JOINT FILLER FOR STONE FLAGS, SETTS, CONCRETE PAVING SLABS

Ready to use self-setting permanent easy-joint filler for use in both dry and wet conditions

Geo-Fix® All Weather is ready mixed and can simply be brushed into joints with minimal effort compared to using traditional mortar.
It is easily finished by compacting with a pointing tool saving valuable time compared to traditional wet pointing. Offers huge time saving benefits compared to applying traditional mortar.
Unlike mortar joints, it is totally resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and will not crack or pop out with frost.

Geo-Fix® All Weather forms a solid joint that resists weed and plant growth yet is water permeable, allowing water to escape to prevent ponding. It is the easy-jointing compound used by professional trades people, landscapers, home owners and DIY enthusiasts alike; all achieving great results quickly and simply.

TRADITIONAL TROWEL APPLIED GROUT

Used by professionals and tradesmen alike for over 20 years in a variety of project environments including, public realm, landscaping and domestic. UltraScape Flowpoint Smooth Grout and Ultrascape Flowpoint Eco Grout which contains 20% recycled material and meet all the requirements of the latest British Standards. The third variation of this award winning grout, ideally suited to smooth paving stones and slabs with joints as small as 3mm, providing a seamless surface to your construction project.

For additional technical advice, a bespoke quote or product support, please call us on 01933 426225 or email uksales@industrialcoatingsltd.com.
Alternatively, please use our enquiry form and we will respond shortly.

“Great prices, free technical support and a 100% happy to recommend customer rating.”