How to change the colour of pointing...without repointing!

[Tom]

I have some pointing that is way too white and very glaring next to the original in the house. The mix is sand/lime 3:1. What can I use to change the colour of it? I want it to be more yellowy/creamy.

Also, I have a small amount of pointing which contains cement (not me, HONEST!) that I want to darken to a very, very dark grey...almost black. This is between stone steps that have been darkened over the years with soot and smog. I was thinking of stippling it with boot polish but I'm not sure what it would look like and have no inconspicuous area to try it on. Does anyone have any other ideas of what I could use?

 

[Penners]

The only way I can think of achieving what you want is to paint the pointing. There are mortar colourants, but - to the best of my knowledge - these are only intended to be additives to a wet mix.

But I may be wro... wro... No, it's no good, I can't say it.

 

[stuart45]

You can get stains for brickwork. There is one for matching soot covered brickwork. You can also soot wash with a mix of paraffin and soot.

 

[kevmiles1]

there are powder dusts that you can get and paint over it, but although this might sound odd if you want you poiniting to look old you can paint it will milk this has bacteria in it which speads up the growth of moss and lichen which may match closer your existing pointing, depends what you are looking for

 

[Tom]

@ Penners You can't possibly be wrong, so don't even go there!! :wink:

@ Stuart45 Excellent!! I have the chimney sweep coming in November so I'll be nicking that soot for sure

@ kevmiles1 I should have said that both lots of pointing are indoors, although the steps were orginally outdoors....sorry

Thanks everyone

 

[Flyfisher]

but although this might sound odd if you want you poiniting to look old you can paint it will milk this has bacteria in it which speads up the growth of moss and lichen which may match closer your existing pointing, depends what you are looking for

I've also heard of yoghurt being used for the same sort of thing.

 

[skier-hughes]

but you must use full fat milk, not semi or skimmed. A decent jersey full cream gold top would be excellent, but if I ever treat myself again it's far better on a large bowl of fresh kellogs cornflakes