How To Repair Outdoor Walkway

Q: The mortar joints surrounding the stones in my walkway are aging. Can they exist patched? —Nellie Kurtzman, Mountain Vernon, NY

Martin D'Arcy, owner, DNF Construction, replies: A stone walkway with cracked mortar is an eyesore and tin can go a tripping take a chance if h2o gets underneath and loosens the stones.

The best mode to repair these joints is with a sand-topping mortar mix, which is stronger than regular mortar and tin handle wider joints. I mix information technology with an acrylic fortifier and then that the joints will be less susceptible to water penetration.

The hardest role of this job is chipping out the crumbly old mortar without dissentious the stones. Once the old stuff is out, filling the joints is as easy as decorating a cake. Only keep in listen that while the new mortar won't friction match the existing mortar color, it will lighten and blend in over fourth dimension. The but style to go the same shade would be to replace all the old mortar, aging or not.

Tackle this job only when at that place's no danger of frost. A two-day dip into the 20s F can ruin fresh mortar.

Step 1

Chisel Out the Mortar

Wearing gloves, safety glasses, and knee pads, interruption out the crumbling mortar with a cold chisel and 3-pound sledge. Chisel right down to the setting bed; be careful side by side to the stone or utilise a grinder with a diamond blade to carve out difficult spots. Make clean out the joints with a stiff-bristled nylon brush.

Step 2

Brand the Topping Mix

Pour the dry mortar into a wheelbarrow, and stir in an acrylic fortifier according to the manufacturer's directions. Add just plenty water to give the mortar a gluey, peanut-butter consistency. Information technology should remain workable for near 45 minutes. Before applying the mortar, sponge the stones and joints with water.

Step iii

Fill the Joints

Ladle the mortar into a grout bag or a cypher-top purse that has a ½-inch-bore pigsty you've snipped in a corner. Squeeze the mortar out in a shine motion, forcing it to the bottom of the joints. Fill them up to 1 inch deep in one pass, leaving the mortar simply proud of the stones. Deeper joints should be half filled, packed down with the trowel, then topped off. If any mortar lands on meridian of the rock, scrape it off immediately.

Step 4

Trowel the Mortar

Button the mortar down into the joints using a brick trowel, and so roughly tool it to the same acme equally the existing joints. Scrape off the backlog mix and dump it back into the wheelbarrow. As y'all work, dip the trowel in water to go on information technology clean. As well, sponge-make clean the stones with water to prevent mortar stains.

Step five

Pack it Down

Wait 60 to ninety minutes for the mortar to set enough to leave a thumbprint when pressed. Using a constrict-pointing trowel, smooth and pack downwards the mortar and so that it matches the meridian of the existing joints. Clean the stones every bit necessary.

Stride 6

Brush the Joints

Run a stiff, dry, natural-bristle brush over the mortar in 1 management, smoothing abroad the bumps and ridges left by the tuck-pointing trowel. Stay off the walk overnight. The mortar will fully harden in about a calendar week. If the weather during that time is very hot, windy, or dry out, proceed the mortar moist with wet burlap.