Repointing stone

Author
Discussion

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,771 posts

212 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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I can't decide what to use.I have just built a small wall,should I just buy ready mix or sand cement/lime and mix myself.
In the future I may get round to doing the house and barn and would want in to match.How does it compare cost wise,ease of application etc.

battered

4,088 posts

154 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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For small quantities I'd mix my own. Also for stone I'd use a soft mortar. In France they sell "du chaux" which is lime. A local mason will know the best mix. Do not use anything too hard, you need it to flex.

Montauge

87 posts

164 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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If you want it to match in the future then go for a pre-mix one and just add water. It works out a LOT more costly in materials but comes into its own when you take in other factors like consistency, speed to make up, reduced mess (not have piles of sand everywhere etc. Beware though that you should not over-buy and make sure you store it in a very dry area as it becomes useless if moisture gets to it in the sac.

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
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I agree.
Imagine pointing this: http://www.relaxcheznous.com/brittany-pictures/bri... in not freezing, but bitingly cold winter weather. We used a Weber and Broutin coloured enduit sold by Point P that was a good match for the original joints and also not a big colour contrast to the stone - too white and it looks like vertical crazy paving imho. It's yellower than it appears in the pic though. I'd check out original joints on or near your property for colour and see what you like.
A stonemason neighbour told us to apply it using big icing sacs and this made the job much quicker. I could squeeze the product accurately into the joints as quickly as my oh could fill the bags. It stood up very well indeed and didn't sag even when filling large joints. I followed up with a trowel where necessary, an old paintbrush to smooth it a bit, and tidied it up with the obligatory brosse chien-dent when just dry.
That was sixteen years ago, and it was expensive then, we spent about £350 on the two walls in the pic, but some of the joints were very deep. We weren't confident that we could repeat the same yellowish colour using sand, lime and dye, even the quantity of water can affec t the colour, and It would certainly have been a right pita trying do do so in the rotten weather conditions.
Much cheaper products are available in the usual DIYs that should do the job equally well although they don't offer the same range of colours.
Steve

Terryg4

233 posts

105 months

Sunday 27th March 2016
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We've done quite a bit and use Tradifarge , which is a cross between lime and cement.
Be careful about sand colour as it effects the overall colour. Normal sand ends up with a pinky tint. It's best to use white sand.
Good luck
Terry

magooagain

10,806 posts

177 months

Sunday 27th March 2016
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I use a mix of three sand to one part Lyme. To be sure of a constant mix you may want to box it.ie one level bucket of Lyme to the three level buckets of sand.
Easy enough job but preparation is key. Clean dust free joints and maybe a slight pre dampen of the joint,but that may depend on the temps.

Practice on an area not well seen first.

Possibly the cheapest method.

Montauge

87 posts

164 months

Sunday 27th March 2016
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We used TRADICLAIR PRB. It's a brilliant product. I have a real dislike for lots of pointing around and about in the Gironde which is overly yellow. We picked a colour that was much whiter and for my tastes I think it looks great. Different parts have been done at different times and they all match exactly.
The problem with sand is that it is a natural product that varies so much. The only calibration that quarries will do on it is of size - nothing else, so there can be very noticeable differences in colour between different deliveries. Add to that the moisture contents also always differ - so to me providing funds allow - Tradiclair is the way forward. I would advise against buying it from Point P though unless you have a trade account. They mark it up massively. Enclosed is a photo of the finished result with Tradiclair. Any excuse to get a photo of the Cerbera in!

Le Vette

4,999 posts

241 months

Monday 28th March 2016
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Another vote for Tradiclair here. For ease of use and good colour matching it's great. More expensive than mixing your own, but you pays your money etc etc...