Patio Pointing

I have a patio that in many places resembles the Himalayas, and bit by bit I am endeavouring to return it to as near level as I can (its never going to be completely level without spending a fortune, which I wouldn't even contemplate on a rented house) - however, the pointing between slabs is becoming something of an issue.

Spending hour after hour on bended knee (not to mention mixing up cement) doesn't really appeal; I have used the pre-made, self-setting patio grout with great success on the area that is now the greenhouse floor. It stinks to high heaven, but works well - however, it is stupidly expensive for the area that I have to cover.

Is there any other option though?

I was wondering about mixing a dry mix of sand and cement to brush in, to then spray lightly with a mist spray on the hose to wet it through, before leaving it to set - would this work?

 

Rented? Tell the agent that it's not safe and you have tripped several times and it needs putting right, pronto.

The dry mix won;t work well, but it will fill the gaps. Pointing needs to be done right or it needs re-doing in a couple of years

 

Thanks all

Its not currently dangerous, just cosmetically annoying if you know what I mean? I have a good agent and landlord, and within reason I am left alone to do what I want with the house and garden; the understanding is that I will of course ensure that everything is done properly, and that I won't extract the urine and do something that is extreme or detrimental. If anything were to be unsafe or needing professional attention, then I would only have to make mention to the agent and I would have contractors turning up within a day or two.

The ready mixed mortar looks to be just the ticket - better still, I have a Wickes right next door to my work. I am not overly bothered if it needs doing again in a couple of years, and I am not looking for perfection either - I just want to level things up a bit and then fill the gaps between the slabs to stop volunteer plants taking root (I had tomato plants take root in a couple last year which were discarded side shoots from plants that I must have missed picking up!).

For the sake of maybe £30 of materials, and an afternoon's graft, I will do the job myself - good landlords deserve good tenants in my book.