How To Point Flagstones?

[needawin]

I have read so many things and articles about grouting between garden patio (light use) flagstones.
Dry, wet, this that.
I have black grey flags. They are not a shiny type sealed surface as I could not afford them. I know that if cement gets on them at the grouting stage it will be difficult to remove. Likewise if there are any crushed sand grains.
Need some advice please.

[Togo]

Needawin. Your best bet is a dry mix 1 part cement 4 parts builders sand. Pick a good dry day after a dry spell. Use a brush to sweep the mix into the joints and sweep the flags clear after. The mix will harden on its own. good luck with a couple of dry days.

[The Builder]

I'd go with Togo's advice, Needy. I'd add just one thing. After brushing in the mix, spray water lightly with a kitchen cleaner type hand-spray.

Then iron the joints while the surface is damp. It'll bring the cement to the surface and give a harder, weather-resistant finish.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=brick+joint+iron&espv=2&biw=1164&bih=823&tbm=isch&imgil=kTIbzA7pFgSTEM%253A%253BbZgvwlRhEH8HRM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.brickpointingtools.co.uk%25252Fhtml%25252Fjoint_ironing.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=kTIbzA7pFgSTEM%253A%252CbZgvwlRhEH8HRM%252C_&;dpr=1.1&usg=__ytkQP_m_RzX_iCY8i1ks0V3Jm14%3D&ved=0CDMQyjdqFQoTCMuwrIr9-sYCFfQp2wodQ6cHcw&ei=Eve1VcvfMvTT7AbDzp6YBw#imgrc=kTIbzA7pFgSTEM%3A&usg=__ytkQP_m_RzX_iCY8i1ks0V3Jm14%3D

If you can't find one of these, you can easily make one from a piece of 15mm copper tube.

[Togo]

The Builder nailed that for you there nedawin

[murraymints]

as above..I dry brushed ready mixed powder into cracks..next rain it sets !

[The Builder]

:o)

[murraymints]

builder..will you marry me ??? LOL

[Khandro]

If you put cement in the joints, rainwater will not soak away through the gaps in the flagstones, in fact here in Germany there are by-laws against doing this and the usual practice is to keep brushing dry sand across the flags until the joint are filled.

[needawin]

Great stuff lads thanks

[The Builder]

Damn... I go off to the builders' merchants for five minutes and miss out on a hot date ;o(

Good point from K. That's why slabs/patios should be "laid to falls"... ie slightly sloping to allow water to run off.

[Khandro]

Why the Germans like the absorption of the water rather than the collection (they are the greenest of Europeans) is that when the rainwater runs off the driveway or whatever, it has to then go somewhere else, usually onto the road and then into the drains which in turn usually go on to a water treatment plant which uses energy. So if you multiply that by every drive, path etc. it amounts to a lot of water being treated instead of going straight into the earth.

[whiskeryron]

Guter Gedanke