Hollow sound - Indian sandstone patio and path

[Brucieboy]

LLL - many thanks for the compliments. I'm quite pleased with the job so far - first time at laying sandstone. Just me and the wife (both in our sixties). You guys certainly earn your money doing this every day.

The path down the side of the house was overlaid (about half width) on the existing path bedding which was sound as a pound - about 100mm thick on top of hardcore. It wasn't concrete but looked like 8:1 or 10:1 sand/cement. Fortunately, the level just enabled me to achieve two courses below dpc which decreased a bit when it widened out.

The existing main patio area was also laid on a 100mm sand/cement bed but on top of 150-200mm of sharp sand!! Because of the potential of breaching the dpc, the wife and I removed all this by hand using an electric breaker, smashing up the bedding into small lumps, mixing it with the sand to full depth and then compacting with a wacker in two layers. What a job that was - nearly 20m2. Some of the area that looks like concrete is probably my squaring off of the hardcore at the edges with a sand/cement mix a couple of days before laying the flags. Still got to prepare the perimter base to lay the setts.

[lutonlagerlout]

that could be your hollow sound if you laid on top of concrete
the concrete may have voids under it
looking good though
LLL

[Brucieboy]

That's what I thought at first but some of the hollow flags are over the hardcore as well. The mystery remains but, as I said previously, with all of your assurances I haven't got a problem so I'll carry on pointing in a few days. Once again, many thanks for your prompt responses - this site is brill and a real help.

[Brucieboy]

On another subject, is there a safe way of cutting 150mm square setts. I'll be hiring a disc cutter with water supression (used it before to cut some of the flags). I'll be wearing steel toe cap boots but with the cutter being precariously close to the feet, one slip could leave me footless! Do you use any form of clamping device or just take extra care?

[lutonlagerlout]

safety glasses,ear muffs and a steady hand
i normally cut on an of cut of ply about 600mmm square,put your boot on the biggest part and be careful
LLL

[haggistini]

Looks good Bruce well done!

[landsmith2001]

Done a lovely job there fella, especially as its your 1st time. Very impressed..

[Brucieboy]

Thanks guys for the compliments. Will post a couple of more pics when the job is complete.

[zzr-matt]

Can you tell me what brand and the name of the colour of your flags are?

[Brucieboy]

Brett Landscaping Forest Glen (basically Raj Green)

[zzr-matt]

Cheers