Patio Pointing Guide

Keeping your patio looking its best can be a tricky job, especially when you consider the harsh winter weather that we experience in the UK! With freezing temperatures and more than our fair share of rain, your patio can end up cracked and riddled with weeds. To avoid your patio looking like a miniature jungle, it’s vital that you know how to point your patio. 

Repointing a patio simply means filling in the cracked grouting, and with our step-by-step guide, you can get your patio looking as good as new in no time. 

What You Need 

• Sika Fastfix All Weather Compound
• Sika Setting Sand
• Everbuild Heavy Duty Wipes
• Metal Tool
• Broom
• Hosepipe

Step One: Soak the Patio

Before you start grouting, it’s essential to thoroughly saturate the area that you will be repointing. Use a hosepipe or watering can to thoroughly soak the patio, spreading the water across the area using a yard brush.

Step Two: Pour the Grouting

It’s important that you use a high-quality grouting compound when pointing a patio in order to get a professional, effective finish. We recommend using Sika Fastfix All-Weather compound, this ready to use, self-setting jointing compound has Active Resin for enhanced durability which sets hard and will not wash out. This compound is ideal for outdoor patios and pavements that have joints over 5mm wide and 20mm deep. One of the reasons we recommend Sika Fastfix is because it can be used in any weather conditions, even the rain! Once you’re finished, it can be stored and reused for future pointing projects. 

Top Tip! To work out exactly how much compound you need for your project, take a look at the Everbuild Fastfix calculator.

Step Three: Filling the Joints

Using a broom, sweep the compound into the joints where it’s needed. Take your time with this as each joint must be fully filled with the compound to prolong its durability.

Step Four: Strike the Joints

Once you have swept the compound into the joints, remove all excess product and begin to strike it into the joint. Use a metal tool to fully ensure that it is firmly pressed into each gap and check that no spaces are left.  

Finish with Sika Setting Sand, a moisture curing jointing compound for narrow joints. Faster than traditional methods, it can be simply poured or swept into joints before being saturated with water giving perfect pointing for all types of block paving. Once cured, it will not wash out, shrink or crack over time.

Step Five: Clean Up!

Once all of the joints have been filled with the compound, take the time to sweep up any excess compound that can be reused for future applications, fill the tub with water and seal before storing away. For extra-easy cleaning, we recommend using Everbuild Heavy Duty Wonder Wipes to remove excess product. 

Patio Pointing Aftercare

After repointing a patio, it is important to maintain it properly, but ensure the patio is fully set before applying other products. The time that it takes for the compound to set will depend on the weather condition that you lay it in. If it is a dry day, it should take around 73 hours to set completely; however, if there are wet conditions, this could increase to approximately 28 days. After this, you can use various products to keep your patio in good condition. A good quality patio protector will help increase the longevity of your pointing work. We also have tips and advice on how to clean your patio to help you keep your outdoor space in pristine condition.

SHOP SIKA FASTFIX ALL-WEATHER COMPOUND     SHOP SIKA SETTING SAND   SHOP EVERBUILD HEAVY DUTY WIPES

Considering block paving instead? Read our blog on how to seal block paving for tips on longer lasting paving on your property. You may also want to consider installing patio drainage channels too to ensure the proper removal of water to prevent pooling.