Expansion joints sandstone setts - Expansion joints

[Garyp]

Hi All,
I am laying Indian sandstone setts (200 x 100 x 30-60mm) on sharp sand & cement screed, over 150mm well hammered down, crushed concrete subbase with a tightly bound surface. Area is approx 12m x 5m. I will be finishing with a Romex Rompox jointing.

I am well aware of the need to include joints in concrete but I have been advised that I do not need to include expansion joints in the paved surface...I am very uneasy with this as everything expands and contracts and much of the paving area (across the 5m width) sits between two walls - i.e. any expansion could affect the walls themselves and/or (if the walls were strong enough to resist the expansion forces) possibly cause the paved surface to buckle.

I have been unable to find any reliable, experienced, definitive advice on what to do, nor on what material to use in any expansion joints (except for flexcell).

I am feeling that I should leave an expansion joint in the paving layer (i.e. through the paving setts and the bedding screed) where the paving mets the walls, all the way round, and also include a joint halfway across the longest run - i.e. to divide the 12m into two 6m 'bays'.

Advice Welcomed!

Gary

[lutonlagerlout]

i think you are worrying unduly gary
as long as the falls are correct it should be ok
however it would probably be best to run an expansion joint along one wall
details here
just a strip of flexcel and a mastic finish should be enough
LLL

[seanandruby]

try here

[ilovesettsonmondays]

hi.i lay setts on a regular basis in central london ,you do not need expansion joints .