Granite paving slabs - What should the gaps be ?

[nickrroo]

Hi All,

Wonder whether you could help settle a 'discussion' I'm having between builder, wife and landscaper about the correct gap that should be left between Granite (large) slaps when layed as a footpath and patio.

1. 10-15 mm then filled with Geofix type substance

2. Butt up tight and use kiln dried sand like you would block paving.

Some spec's I have read say 10-15mm but pictures of this type of patio seem to indicate butt joints.

Please can someone be judge and jury ?!? Thanks Nick.

[Rich H]

Depends on the number of sizes, the laying pattern and desired finish.

If they are all one size and have machine cut edges then they will look good butted up together per option 1. Option 2 is a no-no for reasons repeated ad-nauseum all over this site (search: geofix if you want to know more!).

Option 3 might be to use either a dyed-mortar joint or a decent resin-based pointing material like Romex.

Would be handy to know what make and type of slabs.

[lutonlagerlout]

10-15mm is more aesthetically pleasing,but joints are something that always look nasty
LLL

[Rich H]

© Globalstone (website image)

[Tony McC]

It's a matter of personal taste but the flags should never be in direct contact with their neighbours. 3-5mm would be a close joint (sometime referred to as 'butt joint) and can be filled with jointing sand or a *quality* narrow joint polymeric (so not Geo-bloody-Fix). Wider joints (9-15mm) can be filled with a standard cement mortar, a resin mortar, or a proprietary cement mortar such as Easipoint

[Rich H]

What's wrong with Geo-fix, Gaffer? I was thinking of using it

[Suggers]

Blimey Rich, where you been? - not a week goes past without someone cursing and/or commenting on the infamous stuff !
Use the search engine and you'll see.....

[Rich H]

[Suggers]

Ha ha - blush - you got me..... :laugh:

[red-star]

this is a subject I dealt with recently with my granite driveway, against the best advice on the forum I tried to lay without any gap and the pattern started to go out, I then reverted to 5mm gaps and this worked, we filled after with kiln dried sand, this is not the most satisfactory finsih as the sand is brown when wet and it always looks dirty.
The sand also comes out of the larger gaps, so one of the expoxy finishes might be the way to go.