Fitting flags to foundation blocks - Foundation blocks in the way

[IanMM]

Hi
I am planning to build a patio along the back of my house. It will have curved edges and ranges from 1.2 to 1.8 m in depth from the house. It will be paved in 22 mm calibrated Indian sandstone with 100 x 100 mm sets as an edging.
The brick wall of the house is laid on grey foundation blocks which extend about 100 mm out from the house three courses below the damp proof course. I want my patio to be as low as possible because the ground falls away from the house. My difficulty is how to fit the flags around these foundation blocks?
- If I place my flags on a bed of mortar on top of the block then my patio is raised up to approximately two courses below damp proof course – But I want it to be lower.
- I considered laying the flags directly on the blocks with no bed under them (but of course the flags would be bedded on concrete further from the house) but I am concerned if water runs under the flags and freezes in winter that it could damage them or pop them off the bed.
- The third option was to butt the flags up to the foundation blocks, rather than up to the brick wall and then disguise the blocks somehow perhaps by fixing some shingle on top of them.
Do you have any comments or other alternatives I could investigate?
Thanks
Ian

[seanandruby]

Would it be possible to bang some photo's up so we can see?
Why would you want them lower and possibly need steps up?

[IanMM]

Here are 2 photos: 1 showing detail of the foundation blocks and the other showing the back of the house where the patio will be. We're planning to have a step down from the back door to the patio, and the patio will be flush with the lawn.

Photo1
Photo2

Ian