Cosd Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) So firstly a big thanks to Al3x and his "patio" thread and recomendation, I ordered 60 square metres of Sandstone slabs which arrived today. Al3x took time out giving me advice and tips following his work, so thank you that man, your a gent!! Days 1, 2 and 3 I been off since Wednesday, when 2 tonnes of sand was delivered, cement and strip drains (wrong ones ). Four hours of carrying the sand through the house in buckets saw the sand in the garden, and today 5 hours hard graft and the slabs are in the garden too. The idea is that I will do the labouring and on Monday the wifes brother is coming to lay them. I'll be mixing cement, cutting the stones and helping lay the really big stones, general dogs body in other words. The area to be slabbed is concrete based and we will be laying the slabs on mortar The area to be slabbed, sand in place and start of slabs being brought over All the slabs and sand ready for Monday start I'll take a picture at the end of each day in progress and post it here. Now I got a sore back so I'm going to relax and have a glass of red me thinks....... Edited April 23, 2010 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Should make a nice sunny patio when you've finished.Mind your back though cos paving slabs seem to get heavier the more you lay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Lay em on a full bed of stiff mortar,tap em down level or to your falls,then scrape a furrow along side and lay the next and so on,its a lot FASTER and makes a better job than blobs,have laid loads of patios and drives using this metthod and noe have ever moved. Its gonna look good when youve finished with those slabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 Lay em on a full bed of stiff mortar,tap em down level or to your falls,then scrape a furrow along side and lay the next and so on,its a lot FASTER and makes a better job than blobs,have laid loads of patios and drives using this metthod and noe have ever moved.Its gonna look good when youve finished with those slabs. It's quite difficult to do that because the stones vary from 20mm to 40mm thicknesses; I think it will be blobbed, but plenty of the so almost like a whole bed of mortar if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) Heres a job I finnished last week . Good luck I am glad I didnt have to lump all that though your house. Weather is look top for patio laying Kind regards OTH Edited April 23, 2010 by Over the hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted April 24, 2010 Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 Just a query are those slabs from "Builder Center" ?? doing same job and they look same - were they easy to level. - I got to dig about 5 ton soil out first -just filled four wheel trailer and probably another four -to go.- existing old flag stones (weigh a *****y ton each) sloped back to house.- Got a man to come in and he is laying them on wet mix - gona cost a fortune. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 Heres a job I finnished last week . Good luck I am glad I didnt have to lump all that though your house. Weather is look top for patio laying Kind regards OTH That looks like a fine job mate. Very neat and clean looking, you must be very pleased. I wasn't looking forward to lumping it all through the house, but I have a wide front door and double doors internally so getting it through wasn't too bad. I also laid down a double layer of hard board from front to back just in case and to protect the wooden floors. I did it all myself as I wanted to be careful that make sure nothing was damaged, other than my back! Looking forward to starting tomorrow now and I'll add another picture at the end of tomorrow's progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 So here's another update of day 4 and 5 Day 4 Decided to take the advice from here and we laid the stones on a whole bed of mortar instead of blobs. We managed to lay almost 2 tonnes of sands' worth on the first day of laying. Not used to this work and I'm tired having laboured all day. But very happy so far. Day 5 Managed another 2 tonnes of sands. worth today, but today I had to carry 2 tonnes of sand from the front of the house to the back in buckets; I thought yesterday I was tired, today I know what that really means! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 (edited) looks good, how is the pattern going causing any headaches yet not having a patio that fits the instructions :thumbs: its a shame you were on a concrete base we managed to avoid drains by leaving a gap and gravelling it Edited April 28, 2010 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 (edited) And also a picture of the strip drains now bedded in and the mitre cut on the bend. Still another section to go in but it's just a straight run. Edited April 28, 2010 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 looks good, how is the pattern going causing any headaches yet not having a patio that fits the instructions Mate, you can see the shape of the patio that I was never going to find a pattern that fits We have set out to pattern twice so far, but so we don't end up with straight lines we have to alter. A lot of head scratching goes on, but our memories of doing puzzles when we were younger has paid off me thinks. I want to put it down to incredibly good planning and careful calculations of measurements, but I'd be lying; I have to confess that we have now brought the pattern right down to the last home run, we have encountered drains to two walls and an additionl 4 walls and the stones have fitted edge to edge and no cuts are neede :thumbs: I'm so happy with that as it saves a lot of cuts and wastage. Al4x, have you sealed yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 no and I'm undecided, charliebrown on here said there is no need unless you want the stone to look more like it does when it is wet. I'm tempted to try a spare one just to see as they do look rather good when wet. p.s I can imagine the headaches pattern wise it is a nightmare you try and adjust with the odd varying joint width!! must say though mine has been well worth it now its a decent area for a beer in the evening!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 (edited) no and I'm undecided, charliebrown on here said there is no need unless you want the stone to look more like it does when it is wet. I'm tempted to try a spare one just to see as they do look rather good when wet. p.s I can imagine the headaches pattern wise it is a nightmare you try and adjust with the odd varying joint width!! must say though mine has been well worth it now its a decent area for a beer in the evening!! I've found a company that specialises in sealers and had a good chat; This guy I spoke to really knew hisr stuff. Explained how the stone needs to be prepared for sealing, and he also explained that they don't use acrylic sealers as they give the wet look, instead they have another product which doesn't change the look yet repels water and oil. Not cheap though, but if you are interested let me know and Il can get you a 20% discount for trade. Regarding the drainage, I purposely had drains fitted when I extended the house because our soil is clay and I have a field at the end of my garden which slopes toward the house; So I have three 4" pipes running under the house do the main drains as well as a soak away under the lawn. I bet yours is nice to chill out on, it looked great in the picture! Can't wait till it's my turn :thumbs: Edited April 28, 2010 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Nice stone colouring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebrown Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 I've found a company that specialises in sealers and had a good chat; This guy I spoke to really knew hisr stuff. Explained how the stone needs to be prepared for sealing, and he also explained that they don't use acrylic sealers as they give the wet look, instead they have another product which doesn't change the look yet repels water and oil. Not cheap though, but if you are interested let me know and Il can get you a 20% discount for trade. Regarding the drainage, I purposely had drains fitted when I extended the house because our soil is clay and I have a field at the end of my garden which slopes toward the house; So I have three 4" pipes running under the house do the main drains as well as a soak away under the lawn. I bet yours is nice to chill out on, it looked great in the picture! Can't wait till it's my turn Honestly its not worth it. The decent sealers and impregnators are expensive and unless your constantly going to be getting oil on them leave them alone. It looks like a Raj Blend stone, which is already pretty good for not showing the dirt. Just clean it once a year in about March and enjoy it. Lithofin, Hg and Fila all make good products. Ive been playing around with a new impregnator from Easipoint called 235 Lankoprotec (catchy name isnt it!) which on first impressions seems pretty good, but again in my opinion not worth it. If you want a little bit to try out on a slab drop me a PM with you address and I can post a bit in a couple of types so you can see what it comes out like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 which would be the best sealer to give a wet look...? my patio i laid needs sealing as it looks much better wet or damp..all the colours come out more and it seems a tiny bit dusty stilll? any advice welcome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 (edited) heres my efforts... lost alot of shooting days to this project last summer... still got a few bits to finish now the good weathers on its way back... huge patio dug out around 30 ton of soil in the end ! brought in 11 ton of mot, countless tons of sand/cement etc... and 8 ton of slate..all by barrow, mostly on me own !.... slabs are concrete, locally made by a bloke in frodsham... they were woppers around 60mm thick some 900x750 mm..very heavy... spent a fair few days lay on the floor after a day on it....hahha... started like this... then went like this... onto this.... http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm189/myzeneye/036.jpg http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm189/myzeneye/035.jpg next was some walls and drains.. then .. Edited April 28, 2010 by myzeneye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 myzeneye If you have half a day spare can you come do mine - only have to shift about five ton and lay 85 2x2's - buy you a box of shells dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Nice Cos but im guessing the next time we are out i wont be getting any of my kit carried by you But then I doubt you will have the strength left to lift a gun!, especialy after the celebrationary patio opening Bar B ( greek style of corse ) A nice looking job, get the mrs to walk up and down your acheing back, no stilletoes this time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebrown Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 which would be the best sealer to give a wet look...? my patio i laid needs sealing as it looks much better wet or damp..all the colours come out more and it seems a tiny bit dusty stilll? any advice welcome... How long have they been down? Concretes a different ball game from natural stone. Are the dusty bits sort of whitish in colour? If so its probably effloresence (sic) which is basically salts coming through the concrete. You see it on new brick walls quite often as well. Some concrete paving seems to suffer worse than others. If its salts rising you shouldnt seal it before its stopped happening as you will just seal them in. Have a look at http://www.pavingexpert.com/eff01.htm Loads of info here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 i know what you mean..salt and that...but i dont think its that its just more like dust... weve had lots of sand needing brushing up too..but i think thats cos the mortar i used for some of the pointing was pants... repointing saturday if it dont rain.... theyve been down maybe 6 months more so now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted June 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2010 (edited) Final Update OK, so barring some planting in one of the new borders and a wash down to get rid of all the dust the project is now complete. Fortunately and unfortunately I injured my knee last Friday bringing in more sand, cement and bricks from the front to the back, ended up in A&E Saturday so had to call a brickie to to build the dwarf walls for me. I chose a sandstone brick to match the sandstone slabs recomended by the good man Al4x, and I must say I am really pleased with the whole thing. Edited June 4, 2010 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted June 4, 2010 Report Share Posted June 4, 2010 Nice looking job there mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 4, 2010 Report Share Posted June 4, 2010 looking really good well worth the hard work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.