Choosing the right grout for the project

Should you lay paving stones or tiles in the garden? Then you also need to join the surface. Today we will help you through the joint sand jungle!

When you have laid your last stone, finish with joint sand. The joint gives a nice finish and creates a durable distance between the stones. There are different types of joint sand and some harden in contact with liquid. We sell three different types at Stenbolaget; decorative joint, flexible hard joint and cement-based joint.

Flexible hard joint we recommend in nine cases out of ten. It is self-draining and keeps the weeds away. The joint hardens in contact with liquid but remains elastic. Perfect choice for those who want to make life difficult for ants and vermin and keep weeds away from your paving. Flexible hard joint has a required depth of 30mm and binds up to a maximum of 10-15mm in joint width. However, this product requires that the temperature exceeds 10 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours when it is installed in order for the joint to harden properly. So check the weather forecast and take this into account when you have to join paving stones and join tiles.

Decorative joint is sand and is available in several different colors. Usually it is not weed suppressant, but there are such alternatives. The weed-inhibiting joint sand is black and made of an alkaline material, which makes it difficult for weeds to take root. The decorative joint does not harden and moves easily during heavy rain, washing of the surface. But the decorative joint can also be improved without major preparatory work, which makes it easy to work with.

Cement-based joint is excellent for paving on cast soles. As the joint hardens and gives a concrete-hard joint, it does not create a draining effect. Never install a cement-based joint when you have installed your stone in bearing layers and set layers. The ground will always want to move a little between seasons, which would affect such a joint by cracking and crumbling.

• Solid substrate = Solid joint material
• Flexible substrate = Flexible joint material

A fourth option is to use stone flour to join paving stones and tiles. The stone flour has the same properties as the decorative joint. The coarser fractions in the stone flour will not slip into the joint and be brushed around the surface to then be removed from there.