Different sized joint widths

[Jimmy Conway]

Going to lay slabs of differing sizes soon.

Have read the section on different sized joint widths and it seems to be a case of lay some slabs, stand back and look at what you've done and adjust as needed, basically trial and error.

Can anyone offer advice to get it right first time so idont have to keep lifting and adjusting or is it unavoidable?

THANKYOU

[r896neo]

It is usually possible to nudge slabs without lifting them as long as you do it asap before the mortar begins to dry or you risk breaking the bond between bedding and flag.

As for the joints just try and think about it as you go. generally speaking the bigger flags will need bigger joints and the smaller ones in particular the 300x300's will need tight joints.

My personal feeling is that if in doubt lay it tight and you can always open it up a fraction with a grinder when your pointing.

Having large 20mm plus joints is a real bug bear of mine and is a clear indication of poor planning and execution.

[London Stone Paving]

Technically speaking all the joints should be the same size. The sizes of our sandstone range are

905x600
600x600
600x290
290x290

This allows for a nominal 10mm gap. The real issue with Indian sandstone is that the tolerance can be up to +/- 5mm

[r896neo]

Unfortunately here in NI we are only just getting most stone available calibrated, having sizes compensated to allow for joints is still a while off....


Do you supply a laying pattern then to go with that steve?

[lutonlagerlout]

technically speaking == I like that phrase

the reality is that unless you have the time to measure each flag there are always the odd rogue one in there thats 15mm under or over
things have improved but no supplier has the time to measure each flag so its up to us

and that is my experience of ALL hand riven indian stone

as neo says better to lay tight and grind out after than have wacking great joints

cheers LLL

[sy76uk]

You also have to consider how well the flags are cut. Unless all the corners on the flags have 90* angles only the side that is being laid to the sting line will be straight. There is also a chance that your 300x300s will be 290 or 295.

[Jimmy Conway]

Thanks for help. Patio is going to be rectangle shape.

Is it easiest to start in a corner and lay a full line of slabs along one edge and then from there start positioning slabs according to laying pattern and just keep working from one side of patio to the other?

THANKS

[mickg]

you always lay using taught lines set to the finished height of the paving and with falls to disperse surface water, don't lay the paving level

its personal choice but the laying pattern that looks more modern and contemporary is to lay the paving in courses from one side to the other rather than laying using a random laying pattern and to lay with a bond from one row to the next so you don't have any straight lines carrying through

[Jimmy Conway]

Patio will have a fall.

Will be following laying diagram from manufacturers catalogue so there won't be any lines of pointing running continually through the full length or width of patio. Think that's same method you suggested.

THANKS

[Mikey_C]

... so there won't be any lines of pointing running continually through the full length or width of patio. Think that's same method you suggested...

no its not, there will be full width joints, see about half way down pg 193 of the "recent work" thread in "site works" topic.

as diy'er who has laid his own patio, with the full random patio, I should have done it as stated/shown !!

[mickg]

this is laid in courses, the alternative is a random laying pattern

patio laid in courses

patio laid random sizes

[Jimmy Conway]

Photo on page 193 is different style to what I had in mind. I was thinking something similar to lemon curds photo on page 191.

Having said that I think pattern on 193 would be less complicated to lay but laying pattern on page 191 looks better .

THANKS

[London Stone Paving]

Unfortunately here in NI we are only just getting most stone available calibrated, having sizes compensated to allow for joints is still a while off....


Do you supply a laying pattern then to go with that steve?

We've got laying patterns on the product pages. If you look in the left hand navigation you will see a section called paying patterns
Laying patterns