Bedding layer - What mix?

krismorg · Post: # 21547Post **krismorg** Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:18 am

Hello again - have laid a tonne of hardcore with about half a tonne to go plus the coarse sand on top but am unsure about the bedding layer mix. Website suggests 6:1 mortar mix (coarse sand/mortar) but am a bit doubtful about whether to use semi dry or wet mix. If semi dry how long before the mortar/bedding layer becomes unusable?

andpartington · Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:29 am

what are you laying slabs? ???
path drive patio? ???

i have always used a wet mix because i find it easer to work with it will go off in 12 hours or less deping on then weather and strength

but i know lads who use the semi dry mix and never have any problems with it

andy

krismorg · Post: # 21554Post **krismorg** Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:02 pm

laying patio slabs. 12 hrs should be enough, but if it isn't can it be done in two halves if the weather or my speed takes effect?
How long for a semi dry mix to cure? I am using romex easy in the joints so will have no effect on the bedding layer?

andpartington · Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:48 pm

you dont have to lay it all in one go you know

andy

Rich H · Post: # 21561Post **Rich H** Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:15 pm

Krismorg, I'd really stick to the 10:1 sharp sand:cement mix with little or no water. Feather out the mix with a spade or trowel, lay the slab and consolidate to the required level then on to the next one. It's pretty easy and plenty strong enough straight onto the compacted hardcore - no need for anything inbetween. Do as much as you can and come back to it if you can't finish in one go. It's helpful to point the same day but not essential. Sometimes I do 100m+ on jobs which take several days to lay, I then point it all in one go (but not on my own

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krismorg · Post: # 21574Post **krismorg** Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:55 am

Thanks for the tips. Very useful, weather permitting will be laying the mix and the slabs Thursday. Cheers!

krismorg · Post: # 21623Post **krismorg** Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:16 am

I have laid a row of 8 patio slabs on a 10:1 mix with no water, what is the usual time for it to cure? I have considered adding some water to help the process, is this ok?

Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:10 pm

dangerous game kris laying with no water,even a quarter bucket in a mix will help them set overnight
laying like that they could take days to set, and some clown may have walked on them and destabilised them by then
a moist mix would have say 1/2 gallon of water in a mixer's worth
cheers LLL

krismorg · Post: # 21641Post **krismorg** Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:46 pm

have dampened the mix and awaiting the results - cheers!