What should I grout my patio with?

[johnnyrod]

To the multi-talented org'ers... The patio is a few years old now, slabs of sandstone with gaps about 1" I guess between them. The mortar in the gaps seems to be reverting to sand and going everywhere. What's the best bet to use to replace this, so it doesn't do the same, and I can get a reasonable finish with my ham-fisted trowelling?

Also I heard a crash the other day, though to myself, "forgot to close the garage door, bet the wind's blown it shut." Almost, it was lying on said patio surrounded by bits of wood and screws. Procrastination is the thief of garage doors, it would seem.

[jimmy__riddle]

To the multi-talented org'ers... The patio is a few years old now, slabs of sandstone with gaps about 1" I guess between them. The mortar in the gaps seems to be reverting to sand and going everywhere. What's the best bet to use to replace this, so it doesn't do the same, and I can get a reasonable finish with my ham-fisted trowelling?

Also I heard a crash the other day, though to myself, "forgot to close the garage door, bet the wind's blown it shut." Almost, it was lying on said patio surrounded by bits of wood and screws. Procrastination is the thief of garage doors, it would seem.

what ive done in the past (maybe not the best way, i dont know), get old stuff out, drymix sand and cement, use brush to sweep it into gaps, then spray a mist of water using a hose to make it set. (make sure its only a mist!)

but others will probably have better ways.

[timwilky]

The mortar breaks up on mine each year as the frost/ice has formed and done its business. Then power washing the winters moss off pulls out anything loose

[madness]

Use a dry mortar mix of sand and cement. I would personally use totally dry sand and not wet stuff straight from a bag. I would also use a bit more cement in the mix than usual, as it will dry harder. I would avoid getting any on the face of the slabs as the cement dust will make them look a mess. Use a funnel of something similar to deposit the dry-mix in the gaps and then use a watering can fitted with a rose to wet the mix.