It is important to fill the gap between paving stones and slabs with the right material. This is the only way to prevent weed growth in the long term. There are basically two ways to fill terrace joints.
How can you effectively fill terrace joints?
To permanently remove weeds from terrace joints, you should clean them thoroughly and fill them either with paving joint mortar for a firm joint or with weed-inhibiting sand for a loose joint.
Preparations
To permanently prevent weed growth, you should clean the joints thoroughly. If there is extreme moss and a stubborn spread of weeds, it is advisable to first remove the paving stones or slabs from the terrace. Loosen the root weeds with a rake and make sure that no root residues are left in the soil. Robust weeds such as couch grass emerge from such remains after a short time. After cleaning, fill the depressions with sand and re-lay the stones.
Joint materials
When filling joints, you have the choice between solid and loose grouting. Both options have advantages and disadvantages.
Paving joint mortar
This material is made of expodide resin and sand. It is used for solid jointing and creates a so-called drainage joint. This is permeable to water, resistant to frost and de-icing s alt and stops weed growth. Mix the joint filling (€38.00 on Amazon) according to the package instructions.
Filling instructions:
- spread over the joints and work in with a rubber squeegee
- Paint diagonally to the joint so as not to sweep out the filling again
- Sweep off excess mortar residue with a soft coconut broom
- Clean patio tiles carefully
- Put a film over the ground when it rains
The grout will dry after about 24 hours, so you can remove the protection again. The area becomes resilient after about seven days. If you would like to use the terrace beforehand, we recommend proceeding in batches.
Weed-inhibiting sand
This material offers the possibility of loose jointing. It is swept damp into the gaps and is not suitable for public terraces but for private terraces due to its slightly lower supporting effect. Quartz sand is a quick and inexpensive way to fill the joints. It is important that the joint sand works against weeds.
Another advantage is that broken stones can be quickly replaced. However, the substrate is washed out when cleaning with a jet of water, so you have to sweep up the sand regularly.
