Bluestone crazy paving - mortar & drainage

[Andrew in Melb2]

Hi,

I've finally settled on my paving and have a couple of extra questions. I've chosen Bluestone crazy paving, approximately 1m by 1m, 40mm thick, per paver. Bloody heavy I should think. So:

- You previously recommended "cement-bound material, say the 10:1 mix " for the bedding. Do I wet this before laying the pavers, i.e. so the cement sets?
- Do I need to use mortar in addition to the bedding material?
- How much fall is too much? In the back area it falls about 30cm over 7 metres.

Thanks again.

Andrew

[84-1089053830]

There's no need to add water to the bedding mix, as long a sthe sand was damp to strat off. If you;re working with a bone dry sand, then you will need to add water, but, under typical British/Irish conditions, our sands are damp enough (10-15% moisture content) to initiate hydaration and setting of the cement content.

There's no need to use mortar on to of the bedding - you can use mortar to butter the flagstones, but no need to 'spot bed'.

As for fall, 30cm over 7m = 300 in 7000 = 1 in 23 - this is relatively steep for crossfall. If you plan to use this area for socilaising, the fall need to be not more than around 1:40 at the most.

[Andrew in Melb]

Thanks for that.

When you say that I 'could' butter the pavers . . . 'should' I? I'd rather not as it sounds like a lot of work..

Thanks,
Andrew

[84-1093879891]

Buttering hard work? How soft are you? It's a doddle - all you have to do is 'smear' mortar on the receiving edges of the flagstones you've already laid, and it's a lot easier, not to mention tidier and stronger, than pointing up afterwards!

If this is genuine 'crazy paving' then your joints are bound to be of variable width, and there's no easier method than buttering and pointing as you work.

Are you confusing it with summat else - like breaking rocks under a hot sun, perhaps? :laugh:

[Andrew in Melb]

hmmm, we are talking about 90m2 of bluestone!

I thought you meant on the bottom of the paver, like a brick. I see you mean the sides Since the pavers are around one metre by one metre . . . I'll have to think about the actual method of holding it up while I butter the sides!

cheers,
Andrew

[Andrew in Melb]

Dammit, now I'm starting to look really silly - "of the receiving edges"

[84-1093879891]

Indeed! :laugh:

Butter the edges of the flags you;ve already laid and then get the next flag to put into position!