It is nearly a year ago when I started my drive project, at this time I had no idea of the sort of drive I wanted, thus I quickly found this excellent website. I have looked at everything from PIC, gravel, block paving, setts and Resin bound. I feel that I have read almost every page of this site, with most of it more than once.
To cut a long story short I finally settled on installing a grit stone sett drive and as you guessed it, ended up speaking with Cookie, who along with this site was a massive help and a great encouragement.
I have recently posted a few questions, the answers to which have been a great help.
I am very pleased with the results. The drive is by now way perfect (and is not finished) but you can see what can be achieved by a novice with the help of this site.
So a very big thank you to all who have contributed to this site.
Yes truly it is all my own work, however I can't take all the credit as sometimes my son,his friends dad and my father in Law helped, the worst job was sorting the stone setts, don't be that impressed, it has taken since February and was dug out last July.
I am going to post some time-lapse video taken from two security cameras when I get a min, it is quite an eye opener
The grout I have done a small section in is Tuffgrout from stientec, was very very careful but still got some staining. Thinking about sealing the tops before I do any more grouting. My only disappointment with the grout was that it dried quite light but was the darkest color they did.
These are images taken from a security camera, throughout the days that I worked on the drive and shows how it all progressed. Unfortunately I don't have any showing the original drive.
cookiewales wrote:nice work well done how much m2 did the grout work out money wise :;):
Cookie,
The grout was my biggest FU, I estimated that I would need 4 pallets (40 x 25kg bags)for the whole drive. The bit you see grouted in the pics is a whole pallet . At £486 all in per pallet, if I were to continue at that rate the drive would need 10-12 pallets, which is more money than I have spent on the setts,cement and sand, in fact it would be nearly more money than I have spent on the rest of the drive in total.
My solution to this, is to partially fill the joints with a dry mix of 4:1 sharp sand and cement and water in very well, leaving only 50-75mm of grout required. The area I have tested this in has set like Iron, thus I am nearly at a decision, however any comments would be more than welcome.
My problem is that now I have done a section I have to continue with the product. I am still guessing but feel that 4 pallets may be enough with the infill. I also intend to pour the second lot as the test patch is very iffy in places, using the squeegee and water method of cleaning.
So to answer your question if you use my first method the grout works out around (4m x 3.5m = 14m2/£486 (don't forget I include VAT & delivery) works out at £35 M2. I expect with my improved method will work out around £12-16m2.
Based on the fact that the usage rate is virtually the same for all products I compared Tuffgrout,SettPoint and Flowpoint. I chose Tuffgrout because they were the cheapest and they were really easy to deal with. I had confidence in all these products as they are recommended on this site.
mrfirepro wrote:............ I finally settled on installing a grit stone sett drive...........
Fantastic job, well done!
What company did you get the setts from.
Bob,
The setts were from A1 reclaimed in Manchester (speak with Dave Marshall) they were fantastic and very easy to deal with. The setts were very clean and could be laid straight from the bulk bag(after sorting, did I mention sorting )
Thank you all for your very kind comments, as this little project has somewhat taken over my life and I was very nervous to lay my work out to such an esteemed group of professionals.
mrfirepro wrote:Thank you all for your very kind comments, as this little project has somewhat taken over my life and I was very nervous to lay my work out to such an esteemed group of professionals.
Thank you
on the pointing side fill up to 30mm from top total soak and let it go off then wet and point as before ps when we use romex or flowpoint we do this ps you could have slurrey pointed all of it for 5 pound m2 bomb proof but would have to tell you how cheers cookie still a top job :;):
Originalstonepaving.com
The very best in natural stone paving in new and reclaimed materials
M: 07968 582231
In all honesty it was a moment of madness and a desire to see a small area pointed and finished but even as it was drying I knew I had made a mistake. Any tips advice you have on pointing the rest would be gratefully received.
Particularly any method for the final slurry grouting, because the clean up took an absolute age and I would like to get it done this year.
:;):
. At £486 all in per pallet, if I were to continue at that rate the drive would need 10-12 pallets, which is more money than I have spent on the setts,cement and sand, in fact it would be nearly more money than I have spent on the rest of the drive in total.