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Romex Resin Based Jointing

Introduction   How it works   Costing   Pros and Cons   Colours   Types   Further info:

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Introduction If you asked any decent contractor to draw up a specification for the ideal jointing material, it's a safe bet that it would read something like.... Must be capable of being brushed-in by the site numpty without messing it up Must not leave any stains or deleterious marks that the client can moan about Must bond firmly to the paving once it's in the joint Must set rock hard in a couple of hours and hold the paving firmly in place Must be capable of withstanding general maintenance and those pesky power washers that everyone has nowadays Must be weed-proof Must be able to withstand the heels on womens' shoes Must be available in a range of formulations to suit different types of pavement Must be realistically priced and not cost more than a new van ...we've had products that meet some of these requirements, but not all of them. We've had products that think they meet some of these requirements, but they're deluding themselves, and we've had quite a few bodged attempts concocted by well-meaning but slightly unstable ex-contractors who believe that once they've formulated this 21st century Philosopher's Stone, they'll never need to lay another flag, sett or kerb as long as they live, as they'll be far too busy living it up in the Caribbean with a bevy of dolly birds and their own bar. Well, it's too late for them now, because Romex, a German company that specialises in pavement jointing systems, has unleashed its products onto the market in Britain and Ireland via their partner company, McMonagle Stone, who are confirming new stockists on an almost daily basis.

Use it with granite cubes...

...or around the pool

How it works
The basic premise couldn't be simpler: a special blend of epoxy resins is mixed with selected sands. For the DIYer and the terminally lazy, the Romex Easy product, designed for use on patios and light-traffic driveways, comes pre-mixed, so there's even less effort required! The 'stronger' versions need to be mixed on site, but as both the sands and the resins come in pre-measured packs, it's simply a matter of putting the sand into a clean mixer, pour in the resins, give it a couple of minutes of being turned over, and away you go! Once mixed, the compound is persuaded into the empty joints by means of a brush or a squeegee, where it reacts with the atmosphere and starts to harden. The strength and adhesion of the mortar comes from the expensive ingredient (the resin) while the colour and space-filling is achieved by the cheap stuff, namely the sand.	Could it be any easier?
It's important not to leave any of the material on the surface of the paving, otherwise it will harden and be stuck there permanently, so use a soft brush to sweep the paving as clean as possible. Although it's not strictly necessary, the joints can be struck using a pointing bar or the edge of a trowel to achieve a more decorative or tidy finish, but when working with natural stone, if the soft brush is swept across the joints at an angle of approximately 45°, the resulting finish looks absolutely fine.

Costing Obviously, the Romex products cost a bit more than would a typical sand/cement mix. However, when the cost of labour is factored in, most contractors find that the time saved when using one of the Romex mortars more than compensates for the additional material cost. On a typical 30m² installation of 100x100x50mm granite setts, one of the contractors that helps me out with research into various materials and tools for the paving trade found ....
...prices, quantities, and even the length of time required will vary, of course, but most contractors find that once they've used Romex, they are reluctant to go back to hand pointing or a traditional sand/cement slurry. For one thing, jointing using any of the Romex products is done whilst standing: no need to kneel or bend as there is with the laborious mortar pointing technique. It's faster, it's patently cleaner, and in many cases, it's actually cheaper than using a normal cement mortar.
No more cracked pointing and loose paving...	....and no more truly awful, messed-up surfaces

Too good to be true? So: all that sounds truly wonderful, but are there any drawbacks? A few contractors have complained that it's a pain when they run short of the product, as it means a run out to their stockist, whereas most sites always have sand and cement available, even if it has to be cadged from the brickies, but then, more and more contractors are realising that they can get better prices by buying in larger quantities and that given its relatively long shelf-life (compared to that of OP cement), it's no great burden to have 10-20% extra available on site. If it doesn't get used on this job, it's almost certain to be used on the next, or the one after that.

Another 'side effect' that has been commented upon is the fact that the resin often leaves a 'film' on the surface. Some have stated that the film acts much like a sealant and enhances the colour of the paving, but it's a temporary phenomenon. The film usually disappears in a couple of weeks or so (depends on weather, traffic levels, etc.) and it's usually around about then that the client decides they actually rather liked the "enhanced" colouring and want a sealant applied to re-create the effect!

Colours As most contractors are aware, the colour of the jointing material can have a massive effect on the finished look of the paving. With pale coloured stone, such as yorkstone or the Indian Grey, I find that a dark grey or black joint really accentuates the tones and textures of the stone, but others might prefer a paler, honey-coloured joint that doesn't emphasise the individuality of the elements quite as strongly. It's all a matter of taste: there is no right or wrong colour.

Which do you prefer?

The Romex products come in three basic colour options, shown opposite. They might be best thought of as "light", "mid" and "dark" rather than the official names which aren't all that evocative. The dark "Basalt" is very fetching as the individual grains of jet black hardstone glisten in the sun and emphasise its true nature, while the pale "Neutral" is a sort of even-hued honey colour. The "Stone Grey" is very granitic in appearance and reminiscent of the splitt traditionally used to joint setts in continental Europe.

Types Aware that different types of pavements place different demands on the jointing, the Romex range provides specific products for particular projects. There's not a lot of sense in having HGV-proof jointing on a patio: it's a waste of expensive resin, so why settle for a "one size fits all" approach? Romex produce jointing mortars for patios, for light traffic, for the busiest city centres, for permeable pavements ... they even make one for walls! Use the links below to access installation videos and PDFs for the whole range...

Loading Class Product PDF Download Adobe Reader? Video Windows Media - Download? Foot Traffic Only Rompox® Patio The pavement jointing mortar for sensitive surfaces 6Mb Foot Traffic Only Rompox® Easy The easiest pavement jointing mortar 8Mb Light vehicles Up to 3 Tonnes Rompox® Drain The permeable pavement jointing mortar 12Mb Large vehicles Up to 7.5 Tonnes Rompox® D1 The proven pavement jointing mortar 16Mb Heavy vehicles Up to 25 Tonnes Rompox® D2000 The modern pavement jointing mortar 15Mb Heavy vehicles Up to 40 Tonnes Rompox® TrafficV2 The strongest pavement jointing mortar 13Mb   Rompox® Wall The quick, cement-free wall jointing mortar 27Mb Other Romex downloads...   No more loose stones - an overview of the Romex benefits     Pavement repair using Romex D1 - rejuvenate tired paving in less than a day!

Further Resources: Want to learn more? Try the Romex Website or email for advice....
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