This is the moment I have been waiting for, to show off my hard work.
A small bit of background, by day I wallow around in an office and at home I am a capable DIYer. I came across this site about 5 years ago and have surfed for many an hour lapping up the info on here.
It is a credit to Tony and all of the Pros who give so much of their time and knowledge to enable amateurs like me to get the confidence to tackle a very technical job. So firstly thank you all so much, you have no idea how you have helped me along.
My project was for approx 85 sq metres and I chose Stoneflair Purestone Slate in Rustic Gold in 290x290, 290x600 and 600x600. After failing to figure out a random laying pattern I sent all the details to Tony, his layout service and materials listing with quantities was the start I needed. Yes I did stipulate that all joints needed to be 10mm <cringe> but like I said, I'm an amateur.
It's not until you actually start doing the job for yourself that you realise why you might have asked some daft questions along the way, but again this forum is very patient and forgiving, thanks lads.
So on with the show:-
This was started last year, all laid but not jointed before winter set in, relaid 34 slabs that popped in the freeze a few weeks ago and finished in vdw 840 N. For a first timer I think I (and the wife) have done really well, learnt some lessons on the way if ever I do it again. Now got to Ebay all my surplus slabs, jointing mortar, sleepers and bricks but I'm chuffed to bits.
I'm a pessimist, by that I mean an optimist with experience.
Actually I did lay over sleepers and it was only later reading the forum that I realised that I made a cock up, frustrating really as I was trying to "do it by the book" and really take some care over this job. With hindsight I should have used brick. I got away with it on the steps by the house but the retaining sleeper wall across the whole width of the garden has shown the bedding layer lift off the sleeper, or the sleepers have shrunk in size. I have had to repoint the gap and think this will be an ongoing process. Bit of a bugger but I'm stuck with that now.
Even so, without this site I would never have had the confidence to have ever started in the first place, such is life I guess.
Thanks you all for your comments and critique, i really do appreciate it.
I'm a pessimist, by that I mean an optimist with experience.
that is a cracker of a job trev
well done
the sleepers are going to cause you grief though mate
stone and timber expand and contract at different rates when wet/dry, hot/cold
dont lose sleep over it now,but you will have to change it at some point
the flag laying technique looks similar to my own
nice falls,nice straight lines,
excellent work!
LLL
Very nice! I'm not a paver so I can't pick up the details but it looks great to me!
One question - have you got access to the unfinished areas of the garden via other means or are you going to have to go over your new area to finish the rest of the garden?
RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset
Since these photos were taken we cleared the back garden and are about to bring in topsoil to level and then grass seed. The plan is NOT to barrow this in over the nice new paving, tradesman entrance from now on LOL.
local patios and driveways - I have 4 tubs currently on Ebay @ £50 each.
I'm a pessimist, by that I mean an optimist with experience.
Trevski wrote:Dave_L - I have access "through the fence".
Since these photos were taken we cleared the back garden and are about to bring in topsoil to level and then grass seed. The plan is NOT to barrow this in over the nice new paving, tradesman entrance from now on LOL.
local patios and driveways - I have 4 tubs currently on Ebay @ £50 each.
