Laying slabs and buttering

[Jimmy Conway]

Going to be laying slabs soon.

Have read about buttering the receiving edges on this site but not sure if I should do it or not, I'm thinking laying on maybe 4 sand 1 cement so reckon that's fairly strong so is it necessary to butter edges or is that more suited to leaner bedding layers?

Also if I do decide to butter edges should buttering mortar be on the wetter side so it squeezes up to fill joint fully?

Is it considered better practice to butter edges and point as you go rather than pointing once all patio is laid?

Any other advice or information would be appreciated?

THANKS

[r896neo]

I would guess most people on here point as a seperate process, buttering is a pain because you can use the same mix so need a barrow of different mortar handy. Then you need to walk on the flags later that day to iron and or brush off which is a risky process in itself as you could leave flags rocking and have to re lay them.

Then again there are pros too but not enough to outweigh the cons for me at least.