Painting or colouring mortar

[whiskeyfrank]

Ive cleaned up my flagstones but the mortar between the stones is an orange colour, i want to get the this back to closer colour to the flags, Gray / Green.

Has anyone painted or coloured mortar when its already fixed, ive thought of grey shoe polish or watered down paint but not sure if there is a better solution?

Thanks

 

[Penners]

I have no experience of trying this, Frank, but I don't think that any surface colourant is going to stand the test of time. Foot traffic would soon wear it off in patches, which would look increasingly unattractive as time went by. I think your only solutions are:-

1. Rake out enough mortar to enable you to repoint with a coloured mortar or grout (depending on whether this is interior or exterior), or

2. Learn to love what you have.

http://www.cemex.co.uk/mortarcolourguide.aspx

 

[Moo]

Why not just let nature take its course? In my experience, all grout goes mud-coloured without me lifting a hand.



(Of course, that's could be because I don't lift a hand)

 

[Flyfisher]

I find myself more and more considering the maintenance aspect of any work I do these days, primarily with the intention of only having to do something once. Therefore, painting floor grouting wouldn't be an attractive option for me because I can't imagine it being particularly long-lasting or seeing me out. So, if something really had to be done, then I would go with Penners' option 1, though I have to say that Moo's approach is probably more likely.

However, that's not particularly helpful if Frank really has set his heart on a colour change so I wonder if one of those two-pack expoxy paints often used for garages and similar would be more durable? As ever, experimenting in an unimportant corner would be essential to see what the final result might look like, but I have to say I'm struggling with my mental image persuading me it could ever look natural or even good.

 

[88v8]

... I wonder if one of those two-pack expoxy paints often used for garages and similar would be more durable? As ever, experimenting in an unimportant corner would be essential to see what the final result might look like, but I have to say I'm struggling with my mental image persuading me it could ever look natural or even good.

It might indeed be durable, but also rather glossy... and given that floors breath 90% through the joints, it would pretty much shut down the breathability of the floor.
I'm in the raking out camp, I think.

Ivor

 

[Penners]

I wonder if one of those two-pack expoxy paints often used for garages and similar would be more durable?

More durable than most other paints - probably yes.

Able to withstand years of foot-wear without scraping off the highest-traffic areas - I severely doubt.