Flags / blocks combination - Details of bed

[wirralman]

What a great site - this is when the internet is really useful.

This years summer project is my girlfriends patio. Thanks to your site I have the confidence to do it (I have before done a pretty big block paved drive so I know block paving pretty well).

She currently has those boring council style plain grey flags. They are in pretty good nick although could do with a clean with a pressure washer? Because of budget and the difficulty in diposing of the old flags I am thinking of doing a block paving / flags combination (inspired by the sample layouts on this site).

I can't find any advice thought on how you deal with different thickness of blocks / flags and the different techniques (you would usually finish the blocks with a wacker for example but not the flags?).

Also, for blocks you normally wack the sand bed as well but I don't think you do this for flags?

Do you butter the blocks when laying the adjacent flag next to it?

Very grateful for any help - can't wait to post before and after shots!

[Tony McC]

Lay the blocks separately to the flags. They can both be laid on the usual 10:1 semi-dry bedding mix that I'm always banging on about, but try to lay the blocks first wherever possible.

Prepare a bed for the blocks, lay them to a taut string line as a level guide and clonk them down to level with a small rubber mallet or use a piece of timber to protect them and bash them with a lump hammer. Flags can be laid on individually prepared beds and consolidated with a maul (if possible). Course of blocks within the pavement can be laid as and when you have the adjacent flags laid and consolidated.

Flag-block joints are typically butt-jointed and filled with jointing sand: it's usually only the flag-flag joints that are buttered and pointed with mortar.

[wirralman]

Thanks for reply Tony - just to confirm...

10:1 mix laid first, compacted and screed off with a board.

Blocks first, knocked down with timber and hammer to the string line.

Then flags (which will be less deep / thick than the blocks) onto individual bed consolidated to level of the blocks. What is this "top" bed made of? 10:1 again?

butt joint to blocks, buttered between flags.

repeat for next row of blocks, then flags etc.

finish with dry mortar between flags, and that kiln dried sand between the blocks and between the block / flag joints.

and not a plate wacker in sight! (except for the 10:1 bed?).

does that sum it up?

[Tony McC]

Spot on! Use the same 10:1 mix for both flags and blocks.