"Grouting" a garden patio

[sfby]

Following an over-enthusiastic pressure washing of my patio I noticed a lot of the filling between the flags had disappeared.

I've looked online & it seems there are 2 approaches - normal grouting with a wet mix (which looks like hard work to a guy with tennis elbow!) or brushing in a sand and cement mix which will draw up existing water & harden off.

Anyone used either of these methods, and were the results satisfactory?

TIA

[carlton23]

I`d suggest your 2nd method, which is what I do, but I also tamper it down firmly with a narrow piece of metal.

[EcclesCake]

I, or should I say Mr Cake, uses the dry mix method too.

[tonyav]

As carlton say's method No 2.

[ummmm]

Def No2.

[bookbinder]

The wet mix is not only hard work (on hands and knees), there's a good chance of smearing the mix over the flags either side of the gap, and that is difficult to (a) avoid and (b) remove. Go for the brushing in the dry mix method.

[sfby]

Thanks all - it seems we have agreement - dry mix it is. Now all I have to do is summon up the enthusiasm to use a day of my holiday actually doing the job!

[CailinDeas]

Had patio replaced a few years ago and dry filled as suggested. Now, weeds keep popping up everywhere between slabs. Unsightly and time consuming to hand weed. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[albaqwerty]

Cailin, one of the little hand-weeding gadgets and salt down the hole, doesn't cure it, but it does help. (well, it helps us)

[SlackAlice]

CailinDeas

Use 'Pathclear' works a treat and the effects last about 8 months.

[Clanad]

You don't say how wide the cracks are between stones, but, here in the U.S. on a paver block deck we don't use the sand/cement mixture, but rather fine, sharp sand only. It (the sand) should be somewhat damp when spread on the patio and then swept with a broom to fill the cracks. A gentle sprinkling with a fine mist garden hose (sorry, hose-pipe) to clean the remaining sand off the pavers...

It will need reapplying sometime in the future, but it's cheap and easy to do...

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Try Geofix or Romex...its a two pack epoxy paving grout and if its applied correctly will withstand jetting...........but it aint cheap!