QUESTION

What type of Grout and Sealer should I use? - I'm hoping someone is willing to help me with my flagstone patio! I'm looking for advice about which grout would be best - the joint width will vary from very small to over 1 inch. Can you tell me which grout would work best for me? By the way, I intend to seal it, too. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

ANSWER

ANSWER - The grout joints should be more consistent in the flagstone shape natural stone installation. If the joints are too tight then you should open them up by using a dry diamond blade on a grinder to make them more consistent. The 1 inch width is bit large, but some like that look or do it because it is easier to install that way.
The general rule is that grout joint widths that are 1/8" or less should use a non-sanded type grout. Grout joints that are 1/8" wide up to about 1/2" wide should use a sanded grout. You can go either way with a 1/8" wide joint. The sanded grout will be less prone to cracking. For grout joints that are 1/2" up to 1-1/4" wide there are grouts with a larger sand size that some refer to as Saltillo Grout, which is more resistant to cracking. To find a list of manufacturers of grouts so you can pick which you want to use go to our Resources column in Expert Answers and click on Installation Products.

Depending on what type of stone you have and how porous it is, and what look you want, you will want to select a sealer that will best fit your needs and situation. There are penetrating sealers for very porous stones that doesn't change the look of the stone much. There are enhancer sealers that do darken and give the stone more of a wet look. To find a list of manufacturers of sealers so you can pick which you want to use go to Cleaners and Sealers.

Good Luck!