Where to start laying

All forms of block paving, brick paving, flexible or rigid, concrete or clays, new construction or renovation
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tryifimight
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:14 pm
Location: kent

Post: # 21645Post tryifimight

hi great site.
i am doing a drive and it is using tumbled blocks in 3 sizes, anyway these blocks do not have the nib on the sides as with others ive seen,
well i was not sure where to start as the drive has a curved front and
any way i started at area 1 so i cold get a full block right up against my edging on the right hand side of the pic and im working towards the road

I did this as the area 1 was not to a full block size and would have meant i would have had to put cuts all along the return where ive started in area 2
(ive created area 1 and 2 to explain easier)

i will then work back from area 2 towards the house puting the cuts there ( in my opinion looking a lot neater)

i am also putting a string line acroos the drive and laying each course to that as i would whilst brick laying as i found they are slightly differnt sizes and was causing it to go out of line

Is this ok to do

also can i walk on these blocks and lay onto the screed as opposed to keeping on the sharp sand and screeding little sections, then laying
thanksImage
can you dig it?

pavetheway
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:53 pm
Location: bristol

Post: # 21649Post pavetheway

why not leave it to a professional! sounds like you don't have a clue
Regards

pavetheway
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:53 pm
Location: bristol

Post: # 21650Post pavetheway

Seriously - its not worth attempting yourself - get someone in to do it for you. I'm in Bristol if that helps.
Regards

pollitt1
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: warrington

Post: # 21656Post pollitt1

I would just like to say that this is a very informative site that give step by step instructions for people like myself and tryifimight to take the challenge and do it themselves, just like the guy from warrington who has pictures up on this site. I have noticed a few topics up here where people have siad, 'doesn't sound like you have a clue, why not leave it to the professionals', I am in the middle of putting down my blocks and although it hasn't been a barrel of laughs, I've got there with the help of this site and myself. I thought this site was aimed at helping people and comments like this don't help to build confidence.

seanandruby
Site Admin
Posts: 4713
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:01 am
Location: eastbourne

Post: # 21660Post seanandruby

try, you have nothing to lose by having a go m8. blocks will never fit perfect all the way through, you will need the odd cut, or three. Screed a section and lay blocks from your leading edge, you stand on your blocks and lay on to the screed. That way you keep the sand level. pay more attention to the main site all the answers are there. we will try and help you through. good luck. :)
sean

Dave_L
Site Admin
Posts: 4732
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:47 pm
Location: Somerset
Contact:

Post: # 21665Post Dave_L

pollitt1 wrote:I would just like to say that this is a very informative site that give step by step instructions for people like myself and tryifimight to take the challenge and do it themselves, just like the guy from warrington who has pictures up on this site. I have noticed a few topics up here where people have siad, 'doesn't sound like you have a clue, why not leave it to the professionals', I am in the middle of putting down my blocks and although it hasn't been a barrel of laughs, I've got there with the help of this site and myself. I thought this site was aimed at helping people and comments like this don't help to build confidence.
Well said that man! :)
RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset

See what we get up to Our Facebook page

pollitt1
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: warrington

Post: # 21680Post pollitt1

if any other first timers need a vote of confidence then I have just posted some pictures up! Yeh, it is hard, but you get there, you save yourselves money and the feeling of achievement is unbelievable!!

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT...GO FOR IT! WE DID. THATS WHAT THIS SITE IS HERE TO HELP YOU DO!

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
Posts: 15184
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 21684Post lutonlagerlout

pavetheway wrote:Seriously - its not worth attempting yourself - get someone in to do it for you. I'm in Bristol if that helps.
i dont follow your logic pal??
and you wont be any help at all in Bristol. if he is in kent
its worth him trying block paving as it can be repaired easily if its wrong
and he does sound like he has a clue
thats it
LLL
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

pollitt1
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: warrington

Post: # 21685Post pollitt1

I agree LLL!!!

sounds like someone trying to get a job if you ask me!

We thought exactly the same, if we start it and then mess it up we can always get someone in the rectify it....luckily it didn't come to this.

tryifimight
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:14 pm
Location: kent

Post: # 21688Post tryifimight

thanks all,
i did not explain properly, the measurement from the house to the return was 2920mm approx, 20 blocks =3040 approx, so this is why i started where i stated,as i personally did not want cuts there( i then screeded enough so i can lay without spoiling until i get enough down to stand on, like with the non tumbled block, but i was a little uneasy to stand on as the tumbled do not feel as tight as the untumble blocks, ( i have done a drive using the non tumbled blocks, and this came out cool)
by trade im a brick layer (not the same as a block pavier i know) and i thought id see how others would start so i can save time in the future, its taken me 1 and a half days to to dig out, set edgings and whack the type 1 on a 38 m2 drive using a pal on the digger a grab to muck away and drop the type1 and start laying on second half of day 2( this is where i scratch my head a bit,LOL)
Image

i suppose i sould have worked out the difference and put the cuts in at the house working towards the road so when i got to the return it would have been a full block, as ill have to put the cuts there when i lay that section (goes red as writes)



i have to say luckily it looks better than my diagrams
im confident it will look nice and be solid, but was after tips, like do i need to check alignment of every course or is this too excessive, ive been doing every course

anyways great site, thanks
can you dig it?

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
Posts: 15184
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 21690Post lutonlagerlout

being a bricklayer should be an advantage over a diyer,i'm a brickie too!!
LLL
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

tryifimight
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:14 pm
Location: kent

Post: # 21718Post tryifimight

thanks chaps,
its all finished and looks well,
as i say great site , and im always reading, and more importantly learning,LLL thanks for your comments too,
can you dig it?

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