Sand & Cement Advise Needed

Hi peps, just a quick question i have a patio made up of indian stone and is jointed with sand & cement, the jointing has been coloured black, but when it was firts layed not by me a few yrs ago the jointing has all crumbled so i set about redoing it myself easy i thought, i bought a 10kg of sand & cement from the local builders yard and some dye, now i mixed it all up dry in a bucket and planned to do it a section at a time, i started of great the first section brill i left the mixture in a bucket in the shed mixed dry still a few days later i started another section and now the mixture when i layed it has`nt gone hard at all its just crumbling up!!!!! can any one tell me whats happening!!!! my only thought is that you carnt leave dry mix sand & cement together or can you, am stumped and fed up any one got any idea`s as to whats gone wrong?

 

"my only thought is that you carnt leave dry mix sand & cement together"

Spot on, it absorbs moisture and the cement goes off. Next time youse a mesure eg a mug or something for the die and say a paint kettle for the sand so as you can acurately mesure out small mixes.

 

pro gard thanks for yr quick repy can i just ask, the dry mix in the bucket has`nt gone hard or nothing it still all what can say powedery like when i bought it, so is what you say true i carnt even leave it ready mixed,,,,, many thanks will have to start again lol better luck this time.....

 

No, dont leave it ready mixed, keep the cement seperate. Wrap the open cement sack in a plastic sack between use.

 

Once a bag of cement is open, the cement starts to deteriorate, as in attracting moisture. I found the best way of keeping cement was in a brewing bin which can be picked up from beer brewing suppliers or your local boots chemist if it is large enough.

These bins come with a lid on. Stored in a reasonably dry environment, the cement will last quite a long time. I have kept cement for 6 months using that method.:thumb:

Regarding what pro gard said about mixed sand and cement...follow his advice.

 

nice one guys, im going to start again this time just mixing a bit at a time many thanks
steve.....

 

May I ask Steve how you are doing it.

Are you removing any of the original filling, then putting the mixture over the top and then wetting it in, as in fine rose head, upside down on your watering can?

 

Pro Guard is right, once opened, a bag of cement should be stored in an airtight container. I used to work on an Estate in Cambs. and we often stored opened cement bags for months in old plastic fertiliser (plastic) cwt bags. We put the opened bag into one plastic bag and then put another bag over the open end. Store off the floor and it can keep for up to a year.