Small amateur paving project - Blue brick paving - 4.5m x 1.75m

[Troutmask]

Thanks for the encouragement folks.

You're right, Sean, criticism is hard to take but without clarification it serves little purpose other than to antagonise. Now you've elaborated at least I can respond.
I was aware of making a mess with the mortar and already have some cementone brick acid cleaner - I had/have every intention of scrubbing them up once I've finished laying the edging course and pointing it up. I wasn't going to leave them like that.
A few things ailed me once I'd started pointing. I started doing it with a pointing trowel but the gaps are very small in places and I ended up doing it by hand, literally, because I wanted to make sure I squashed the mortar in and filled the gaps properly. On top of that it started raining, my back was crippling me, I've got a bloody raging cold in the middle of summer and I was angry and wanted it done so I could cover it over and get a cuppa. I still think I'd have ended up having to scrub them up no matter how careful I'd have been. I wondered about half way through doing it whether pointing them was the right thing to do tbh - by which time it seemed a bit late to change my mind.

Because of the levels I had to work with and the level of the brickwork on that manhole I didn't see what else I could do about it. If I'd have laid right up to it, the blocks would have been 20mm higher than the rest, which I thought would look worse. Couldn't put a tray in because it goes under the fence and half is on the neighbours side. As I think about it right now, one solution would've been to slice 20mm off the bottom of the blocks locally to it but I'm not sure it's a good solution even though it would look a lot better on the surface.
I know it doesn't look the best and I'm happy for you/someone to tell me what I couldv'e done about that I/C.
If I was going to be staying at this house then I'd certainly take it on board and would probably take it up and redo that area before I go any further. As it happens I'm not, and could really be doing without the extra work as I have a multitude of other jobs to do around the house/garden to get the house into what I'd consider to be a saleable condition.

The point of me posting anything on here in the first place was because I had no clue what to do, and also to find out from experts what I should have done/could have done better. I'm not entirely stupid and can see some of my errors - all the books and reading in the world are no substitute for breaking an egg; certainly for some people, and I'm one of those.

LLL: Yes m8, I'm going to do the body as Tony suggested. The blocks I have are slightly larger than the ones I used for the edging though as I didn't have enough to do it all the same. I've actually got 4 distinctly different sized blocks but only enough of 2 to do the area with. You're absolutely right, within those distinct sizes the blocks do vary in size/shape/squareness; some of them are even a bit 'bent' if that's the right word, which I think adds to their charm. Because they've seen many years of use and been reclaimed, some are a bit damaged as well but I don't have enough spare to be too selective over which ones I use unfortunately.

Mick: Thank you. I'm still having nightmares about sloppy mortar and, having cleaned up some of the blocks with brick cleaner before, I know I'm going to get a sweat on scrubbbing them up. I try to learn before I have a go, then have a go, then learn from my mistakes and try not to make the same ones again, if I can. I still haven't learn't how to say 'yes dear' and agree at all the right times after nearly 12 years so, much as I try, I'm sure I'll cock lots of things up again!

Again, thank you all.

[lutonlagerlout]

when you do the area,knock your grit sand cement up just moist,this would equate to 1/4 bucket of water in a mix
you can use a notched board to screed off between your edges,make sure the middle ones are 5mm higher
lay the blocks in,then one they are all laid in go over the whole thing with a piece of 4 by 2 maybe 2 foot long and a hammer tapping the wood to level in the blocks
make sure you are happy then leave overnight
LLL

[ilovesettsonmondays]

or alternately lay it as if they were setts which would take longer but be a perfect job ,meaning using a stringline for every row of bricks and lay them individually and use a spacer ofsome sort to determine what size joint you want in between each brick gl .

[ilovesettsonmondays]

hers the best advice for you .just take your time .if you think you might be going wrong .stop job, just post a q on here and someone will try and help you.in one way its a shame your using decent swag on your first attempt .take your time and double check is the key gl

[seanandruby]

Someone posted on here just a couple of weeks ago that it is only banter and the craic. Saying '' keep to juggling your balls'' was i think banter? Yes i said ' i did'nt like the jointing, or the infill. Can someone tell me i was wrong to form an opinion ??? I've heard a lot worse from some on this site. I did'nt comment to cause embarrasment, or to make anyone feel small. If it was taken the wrong way, or i offended then i apologise, i'm not that sort of person. But people ask for our opinions and we give them just that, if it hurts then maybe they should'nt be asking.

[irishpaving]

I would never do that ??? ??? ........ You would never learn if it weren't for criticism....



Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1280780838

[seanandruby]

That statement has a touch of an oxymoron about it ???
As i keep stating 'it was meant as a bit of banter'. The index is full of information, Tony made him a plan and yet he still made a mess of it ( in my opinion ) if you don't think it needed criticising then that's up to you. Is no one coming to my defense on this ???

[Injured]

I might come to your defence if you used little words I only a prop forward and we only know little words :p

[rab1]

sean, your old school just like my old foreman when i was an apprentice, neatly and correctly (or i`ll boot your flipping arse) was his catch phrase. :O

[seanandruby]

that's right rab. If something takes my eye, i have to change it.

[Tony McC]

For a first time DIY'er, it's not a bad job, and I've seen far worse by so-called paving professionals, let alone brickies, so don't get too disheartened.

The only real error is those corner mitres - the 100x100 square bit always goes on the outside corner in relation to the two 'arms'. So you get this sort of effect....



...I know it can be hard to get your head around the concept at first, but if you study the diagram, and the page from which it's taken, you'll soon see what I mean.

Keep us informed regarding progress.....