Hello All,
I am a new member here. I had posted a message on a non-building related forum and one of the members highly recommended this message board and suggested I post the question here. So below is the question I am trying to figure out:
I have a patio around my pool that has large flat rocks on top. Several of the rocks have worked themselves loose. What should I use to re-attach the rocks? Someone told me to get the stuff masons use to attach the top layer of stones in a stone wall but I didn’t see anything like that at Home Depot. Is it just regular quick-create or is something else advisable?
-jjct1
Replies
Welcome, and kiss your social life goodbye. We need to start a Breaktimeaholic chapter soon...
Remove the stone completely from the deck area, and clean out all loose material...dirt, crumbled mortar, stone chips, dead crickets, etc. If there is still some mortar in place, try to remove it also, unless it is really stuck well. The setting agent can be a variety of products, including masons mix or high strength grout (not tile grout, but stuff that is used to set baseplates or anchor bolts), both of which are usually available in HD and Lowes in the area where they stock sakrete. You could also use a dry set tile mortar, which would be in the floor tile area. Regular ceramic tile thinset is not appropriate. Mix according to directions, place some in the hjole, and re-set the stone. Some grout sets quickly, like 15 minutes, so be prepared...the label will say if it is quick set.
Once the stone is set level and the mortar sets up...overnight for regular stuff, after an hour for quick set, replace the mortar between the stones to match what the others have.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt