Stain for cement pointing?

[Timw]

Our local council have recently patched the pointing of the ancient York stone flags in our little street. The workmanship is terrible but to make matters worse, they have used a particular sand and cement mix which dries to a brilliant white!

Can anyone recommend a stain which can be used to tone down these glaringly white patches?

 

[middi]

It is quite obvious that whoever done the pointing did it with a very wet mix, which is totally incorrect, also didn't bother to remove any excess mortar from the edges of stones with a wet cloth. The good news is that when pointing stains are unsightly, especially on exterior paving stones, they usually disappear over a winter due to frost and permanent traffic.

I don't think it is worth " disguising" the bad workmanship by masking it with stain, it would look a total mess.

Middi

 

[Flyfisher]

Staining sounds a bit drastic and might even look odd if it affects the natural weathering of such new works.

I've read about smearing milk or yoghurt over new brickwork to encourage litchen/moss growth and thereby 'age' new works, but I've never actually bothered to try it myself. Possibly just laziness on my part - or perhaps I have sufficient patience to let nature take it's time.

 

[Timw]

Many thanks for your advice guys!
Tim