Been reading Cormaic's site as im hoping to lay a patio in the next
week or so. Ive dug the area out to what i think is the correct level,
but ive gotten a bit confused.

As i understand it from cormaics site, i should be able to put down
50mm of 10:1 sharp sand/cement mix and then lay my slabs directly on
top of this. I cant see anything on the site that suggests using mortar
between the slab and the 50mm of sand/cement.

Is this right, cos most other sites i have looked at have either said
to use the 5 spot method(!!) or a full 50mm of mortar between slab and
sand. If i do need to add another 50mm of mortar, this means more
digging!!

My assumption is that the sand/cement mix will harden to a certain
extent once the slabs have been bedded in, hence no need for the mortar

If it is just a case of the sand/cement bed, whats the best way to do
this assuming that this is going to take more than one day to complete
and i dont want the cement to go off after laying the whole patio bed.
Any tips for doing it in stages and keeping it level.

Any pointers would be great

Cheers

Mark

"Mark Trueman" wrote in message
oups.com...
Been reading Cormaic's site as im hoping to lay a patio in the next
week or so. Ive dug the area out to what i think is the correct level,
but ive gotten a bit confused.

As i understand it from cormaics site, i should be able to put down
50mm of 10:1 sharp sand/cement mix and then lay my slabs directly on
top of this. I cant see anything on the site that suggests using mortar
between the slab and the 50mm of sand/cement.

Is this right, cos most other sites i have looked at have either said
to use the 5 spot method(!!) or a full 50mm of mortar between slab and
sand. If i do need to add another 50mm of mortar, this means more
digging!!

My assumption is that the sand/cement mix will harden to a certain
extent once the slabs have been bedded in, hence no need for the mortar

If it is just a case of the sand/cement bed, whats the best way to do
this assuming that this is going to take more than one day to complete
and i dont want the cement to go off after laying the whole patio bed.
Any tips for doing it in stages and keeping it level.

Any pointers would be great

Cheers

Mark


Have a look through the www.pavingexpert.com website. Tells you all you'll
need to know about this type of job.

In article , BigWallop
writes

"Mark Trueman" wrote in message
roups.com...
Been reading Cormaic's site as im hoping to lay a patio in the next
week or so. Ive dug the area out to what i think is the correct level,
but ive gotten a bit confused.

As i understand it from cormaics site, i should be able to put down
50mm of 10:1 sharp sand/cement mix and then lay my slabs directly on
top of this. I cant see anything on the site that suggests using mortar
between the slab and the 50mm of sand/cement.

Is this right, cos most other sites i have looked at have either said
to use the 5 spot method(!!) or a full 50mm of mortar between slab and
sand. If i do need to add another 50mm of mortar, this means more
digging!!

My assumption is that the sand/cement mix will harden to a certain
extent once the slabs have been bedded in, hence no need for the mortar

If it is just a case of the sand/cement bed, whats the best way to do
this assuming that this is going to take more than one day to complete
and i dont want the cement to go off after laying the whole patio bed.
Any tips for doing it in stages and keeping it level.

Any pointers would be great

Cheers

Mark


Have a look through the www.pavingexpert.com website. Tells you all you'll
need to know about this type of job.

Err... he started off saying he'd done that

The sand/cement won't go off as long as it doesn't get wet. It will
absorb moisture and harden over time (I presume thats what happens
anyway)
--
Tim Mitchell

OK thanks, so i guess there would be no problem with laying the
sand/cement mix out and leaving it overnight then. Might cover it up
just in case of a shower though.

That will definitely make it easier to get level.

Out of interest, how long would people estimate it would take to lay a
6x4.5 m2 area with 450mm slabs. Im thinking i could put down the sand
cement mix and get them down in a day and a half (on my own)

"Mark Trueman" wrote in message
ups.com...
OK thanks, so i guess there would be no problem with laying the
sand/cement mix out and leaving it overnight then. Might cover it up
just in case of a shower though.

That will definitely make it easier to get level.

Out of interest, how long would people estimate it would take to lay a
6x4.5 m2 area with 450mm slabs. Im thinking i could put down the sand
cement mix and get them down in a day and a half (on my own)


You back will suffer, but if you're fit enough then it should be no problem.

The grout mix for the slabs should be brushed in dry, then watered down
after you make sure all the mixture is cleaned off the surface to stop it
marking the slabs.

In message .com, Mark
Trueman writes
Been reading Cormaic's site as im hoping to lay a patio in the next
week or so. Ive dug the area out to what i think is the correct level,
but ive gotten a bit confused.

As i understand it from cormaics site, i should be able to put down
50mm of 10:1 sharp sand/cement mix and then lay my slabs directly on
top of this. I cant see anything on the site that suggests using mortar
between the slab and the 50mm of sand/cement.

Is this right, cos most other sites i have looked at have either said
to use the 5 spot method(!!) or a full 50mm of mortar between slab and
sand. If i do need to add another 50mm of mortar, this means more
digging!!

My assumption is that the sand/cement mix will harden to a certain
extent once the slabs have been bedded in, hence no need for the mortar


Well you can use just sharp sand under a patio the sand bed will be very
firm once laid, but the cement does help stabilise it in the long term I
guess, or give stronger base. I laid slabs on the dry mix bed technique
in my last house . A few years later all was still nice and level.
Certainly the continuos bed of mortar is unnecessary for patio, though
may be appropriate for a drive.


If it is just a case of the sand/cement bed, whats the best way to do
this assuming that this is going to take more than one day to complete
and i dont want the cement to go off after laying the whole patio bed.
Any tips for doing it in stages and keeping it level.

You don't need to lay the bed all at once. As it's patio I take it we
are talking a reasonably rectangular area. Easiest way then I think is
to lay suitable edging boards (to give the correct fall etc.) and then
screed out the dry mix to the appropriate level over part of the area.

You might want to trial a bit first to see how much it compacts down by.

Don't underestimate how long it may take at first. If you don't get it
right and have to lift the slab to redo the base it can be a right faff.
--
Chris French