Joint-It Elite 12.5KG: Brush-in Permeable Paving Grout for Porcelain & Smooth Stone

Ready-mixed outdoor paving jointing compound for porcelain and smooth natural stone on permeable, free-draining beds.

Joint-It Elite is a cement-free, water-permeable, air-cured paving jointing compound for outdoor porcelain and smooth natural stone. It is designed for patios, paths and other pedestrian paved areas, with joints from 2mm wide and 18mm deep.

It is a convenient alternative to traditional sand-and-cement pointing. The product is ready to use, applied with a soft brush or squeegee and clean water, and is available in five solid colours: Ivory, Fawn, Dove Grey, Graphite and Midnight.

Looking for Ivory or Graphite? These colours are not currently shown in the selector, so please contact our family-run team and we’ll check availability for you.

We’re a small, family-run business — I’m Cleo, the owner, with over 25 years in the construction industry working with businesses including Tarmac and Instarmac. With brush-in paving compounds, the most important question is always where the water is going to go. Elite is designed for free-draining, permeable beds, not solid or impermeable bases.

Joint-It Elite is for pedestrian areas. If vehicles will use the paving, contact us about a more suitable jointing system.

Joint-It Elite features and benefits

• 12.5KG ready-mixed bucket
• Cement-free, air-curing and water permeable
• Suitable for outdoor porcelain and smooth natural stone
• For joints from 2mm wide and 18mm deep
• Available in Ivory, Fawn, Dove Grey, Graphite and Midnight
• Non-staining, weed resistant and power-washer resistant once fully cured
• Can be applied in wet weather, with suitable protection from heavy rain
• Approximate coverage of 8–10m² per bucket on a mixed patio pack, depending on the joint, slab size, surface and application
• At least 12 months’ shelf life unopened when stored correctly

Permeable or non-permeable? Choose the right jointing compound

Permeable paving allows water to drain through the joints and into the ground. Non-permeable paving directs water across the surface to a drainage point.

Joint-It Elite must be used on a permeable, free-draining base. Do not use it on a solid concrete bed or other impermeable base, because trapped moisture can contribute to staining, algae, freeze/thaw damage, cracking and joint failure.

Before choosing a paving jointing product, ask: where is the water going to go?

Four-step application guide

1. Clean and wet the paving. Remove dust and debris, then mist the paving thoroughly with clean water. Keep it lightly wet before and throughout application.
2. Empty and brush in. Open the vacuum-packed bag, tip the product onto the wet paving, lightly mist again and sweep the product diagonally into the joints with a soft brush or squeegee.
3. Fill and settle. When the joints are full, lightly mist the paving again and wait approximately 15–45 minutes, depending on the weather and conditions, until the product begins to dry and settle.
4. Finish and clean. Top up any joints that need more product, then use a clean, soft-bristle brush to sweep away every loose grain and excess from the paving surface. A finishing tool can be used to compact the joints and create a smoother finish.

Important preparation and application guidance

• The paving must be securely bedded, with no movement. Joint-It Elite will not stabilise rocking or loose slabs.
• Use clean water and keep the paving wet while working. If working alone, work in small sections; having someone else keep the paving wet can make a large patio much easier.
• Keep the brush area misted in front of and behind the broom, and sweep diagonally across the joints to avoid pulling product back out.
• Keep any slurry primer at least 25mm back from the edge of each slab so it does not enter the joint and make it non-permeable.
• Joint-It Elite is not suitable for V-joints or bevelled slabs.
• Use PPE, including protective gloves and eye protection, and test a small discreet area first.
• Complete nearby work such as planting, mulching, brickwork or rendering before jointing so the fresh surface is not contaminated.

Base and joint requirements

A successful installation needs a free-draining permeable base. A typical build-up is approximately 100–150mm of compacted hardcore, with room for approximately 50mm of a semi-dry 6:1 sand-and-cement layer, plus the paving depth.

Joints must be at least 2mm wide and 18mm deep. There is no stated maximum joint width, but wider joints reduce the coverage achieved by each bucket.

Natural stone, pre-sealing and colour enhancement

Highly porous natural stone can react differently from porcelain. Pre-sealing is particularly recommended for slate, black or blue limestone and honed black granite. Follow the product instructions and check whether your specific paving needs pre-sealing before you start.

For porcelain, make sure the paving is suitable for Elite, laid on a permeable base, correctly jointed and kept thoroughly wet throughout application.

If insufficient water is used, the product can be drawn into porous stone and temporarily enhance the colour or leave a resin residue. This can take approximately 12–16 weeks to weather away, depending on the stone and conditions. Thoroughly wetting the paving is the best way to reduce this risk.

Weather, curing and maintenance

Elite can be applied in light rain because the paving is kept wet during installation. Protect the work from heavy rain during the first few hours so the product is not washed out of the joints. Do not apply if temperatures are close to or below freezing during installation, and keep application above approximately 5°C. In dry or very hot conditions, especially above 30°C, work in small areas during a cooler part of the day and keep the paving saturated.

Keep pets and young children away from the work area and off the paving for at least 24 hours, until the product has dried. Do not pressure wash the jointing for at least 30 days after application. Once fully cured, normal outdoor maintenance is still needed, particularly in shaded areas and after winter.

Technical information

Joint-It Elite FAQs

I’m Cleo, owner of The Paving Experts. These are the questions we’re most often asked about choosing and applying a permeable brush-in paving compound.

What is Joint-It Elite?

Joint-It Elite is a ready-mixed, cement-free, water-permeable paving jointing compound for outdoor porcelain and smooth natural stone. It is designed for patios, paths and other pedestrian paved areas.

What is Joint-It Elite used for?

It fills joints between outdoor porcelain and smooth natural stone paving where the base is water permeable and the joints meet the minimum width and depth requirements.

Can I use Joint-It Elite on porcelain paving?

Yes, provided the base is permeable and the joints are at least 2mm wide and 18mm deep. For porcelain on a solid base or with smaller joints, a porcelain epoxy grout may be more suitable.

Can I use it on natural stone paving?

Yes. It is suitable for smooth, unpolished natural stone. Porous stones can react differently, so wet the paving thoroughly, consider the pre-sealing guidance and test a discreet area first.

What type of base does Elite need?

It needs a water-permeable foundation. A typical build-up is approximately 100–150mm of compacted hardcore and around 50mm of semi-dry 6:1 sand and cement beneath the paving, subject to the project design.

How can I check whether an existing patio base is permeable?

Run a hose over the area for several minutes and watch the water. If it gradually drains through, the base may be permeable. If it pools on the surface, the base may be solid and Elite may not be suitable.

Why must the paving be wet?

Elite hardens in contact with air. Thoroughly wetting the paving helps prevent the compound being drawn into porous natural stone and reduces the risk of residue or temporary colour enhancement.

What happens if I do not use enough water?

Insufficient water can allow the compound to penetrate porous stone, causing temporary colour enhancement or residue. This can take approximately 12–16 weeks to weather away, depending on the stone and conditions.

Can I use too much water?

Water does not weaken this water-permeable product, but flooding the joints can mean they need topping up. Keep the paving thoroughly wet without unnecessarily filling the joints.

Can it be used in the rain?

Yes, it can be applied in light rain. Protect the installation from heavy rain during the first few hours so the product is not washed out of the joints.

What joint width and depth are required?

The minimum is 2mm wide and 18mm deep. Wider joints can be filled, but they will reduce coverage per bucket. Elite is not suitable for V-joints or bevelled slabs.

Do I need to pre-seal natural stone?

Highly porous stones such as slate, black or blue limestone and honed black granite may benefit from pre-sealing before laying and jointing. Check the product guidance and test your particular paving first.

Should I pre-seal porcelain?

The specific pre-sealing advice relates to highly porous natural stone. For porcelain, make sure the paving is suitable, the base is permeable, the joints meet the minimum dimensions and the paving is thoroughly wet before and during application.

Can I use Elite on rocking slabs?

No. All paving must be fully secure with no movement. Elite is a jointing compound and will not stabilise loose or rocking slabs. Fix the movement before jointing.

Can I re-joint an existing patio?

Yes, provided the base is permeable, the joints meet the minimum dimensions and every slab is secure. Check that water drains through the existing patio before starting.

Can I work alone?

Yes, but work in small sections and keep re-wetting the paving. On a large patio or in warm weather, having someone whose job is simply to keep the paving wet can make the work much easier.

What colours does Elite come in?

Joint-It Elite is available in Ivory, Fawn, Dove Grey, Graphite and Midnight. If you are looking for Ivory or Graphite, which are not currently shown in the selector, contact our family-run team and we will check availability.

How much does a bucket cover?

Coverage is generally approximately 8–10m² per 12.5KG bucket on the stated mixed patio pack. Actual coverage varies with the joint and slab sizes, surface and application.

Can vehicles drive over Elite?

Elite is intended for pedestrian patios, paths and paved areas. If vehicles will use the paving, contact us so we can recommend a more suitable jointing system.

Is Elite eco-friendly?

Joint-It Elite is described as 97% natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic. Keep the product away from pets and children during application, and keep them off the paving until it has dried.

Is it safe around pets and children?

Keep pets and young children away from the working area and off the paving for at least 24 hours after application, until the product has dried. Dogs and other pets should not be allowed onto fresh jointing.

Can Elite discolour natural stone?

Insufficient water can allow the compound to be drawn into porous stone, causing temporary colour enhancement or residue. Thorough wetting and a discreet test area are important.

How long before I can walk on the patio?

Allow approximately 24 hours, subject to the weather and the joints being set. Gently test the joints before allowing foot traffic.

When can I pressure wash?

Wait at least 30 days after application so the jointing has had time to cure.

What is the shelf life?

Unopened Elite should keep for at least 12 months in a cool, dry place, protected from damp, drafts and punctures. Contact with air begins the hardening process.

Can leftover Elite be reused?

Put unused product into a clean bucket after removing the bag and cardboard, then submerge it under at least 5cm of clean water and close the lid tightly. It should keep for up to 4 weeks.

What should I check before using Elite?

Check the base is permeable, the joints are at least 2mm wide and 18mm deep, the paving is secure and clean, any porous stone has been considered for pre-sealing, and you can keep the surface wet throughout application. Tie back overhanging plants before soaking the paving.

If you’re unsure whether Elite is right for your paving, contact our family-run team before you start. We’d much rather help you get the preparation right than have you trying to put a problem right afterwards.

• Brand: Joint-It
• Product Type: Brush-in Paving Grout & Jointing Compound
• SKU: TPE-JOINTELTDG
• Weight: 12.5 kg / 27.56 lb