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Advice needed: How to clean Indian Sandstone patio

robertwebb2robertwebb2 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi wondering if anyone can give me some advice please. I recently had an Indian Sandstone patio laid (long story but he made a right mess of it and its ended up with me having to rip it up and relay on a full bed as he used dot and dab and the slabs were coming loose daily). Anyways I have relaid the slabs but as I have never done this before I was pretty messy. The dirt you can see on the slabs is (I think) the hardcore and general dirt which I always assumed I could wash off at the end. I have scrubbed with warm soap and water, used a mix of 5-1 bleach and now tried undiluted bleach sat on the stains for 30mins and scrubbed, then rinsed off but still the stains are there. I am obviously keeping clear of acids but does anyone have any tips how I can get rid of these marks they are on almost every slab.

Thanks

 
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Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I use Algon on our Indian Sandstone which I think is an organic based solution so it gets rid of algae etc. I prefer it to Patio Magic which is chemical based. I have power washed our paving several times over the last few years which gives great results but tends to blast out the mortar between the slabs if you are not careful. If it is the mortar you have accidentally got on the slabs, then I'm afraid that usually stains the stone and doesn't come off.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    You should use geofix instead of mortar for jointing...
  • robertwebb2robertwebb2 Posts: 5
    Thanks everyone I was hoping the stains would come out when I powerwash it but it doesn't look likely then. It is most definitely the mortar that has stained the slabs then, will this come out with time do you think?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Probably not but if the stone stains that easily it will pick up all sorts of other marks from weathering, algae, spills and they'll all blend and merge. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • robertwebb2robertwebb2 Posts: 5
    Yeah it may well do. Not sure why it has a reddish brown colour to it though if it is the mortar. Quite a few of the slabs have it and it not even like they were cheap either.
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    I would give the Karcher a go. We have a lot of Indian sandstone and it comes up well. For stubborn areas I use it with the pressure nozzle rather than the rotating disc. As everyone else has said, over time it weathers and the tones mellow. Sandstone looks lovely but so often the slabs are not a uniform thickness and tend to have uneven edges, making them difficult to lay and sometimes complicated to joint. I have used Geofix but I find it breaks up over time and a good mortar lasts longer.
  • robertwebb2robertwebb2 Posts: 5
    Thanks Rachel, I have Easyjoint to put in which I know is similar to geofix? And yeah relaying these slabs was a nightmare seeing as I have never laid slabs before. It's just annoying that (2 full weekends later) now its finished the slabs are stained. I will try the Karcher though thank you.
  • Johnny CrosbyJohnny Crosby Posts: 54
    I bought a gallon of  patio resin for my sandstone patio. It cost £20+ but went a long way, applied with a roller. Now, nothing stains it. I realise that that does not solve your problem, but when you have resolved it to your satisfaction, I would recommend applying resin (widely available) to protect the flags from further staining by algae, bird droppings etc. It also improves the colour, giving it a wet look without being slippery.
  • robertwebb2robertwebb2 Posts: 5
    Thanks Johnny I will look into it. Hoping a powerwash will bring back some of the colour they all look the same colour at the moment and they are actually different shades
  • ann_abrahann_abrah Posts: 1
    Sad, that it's like this
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