Cutting flags - Builder's not sure!

[Khlez]

Hello ....I have put a briefing note to my propsective builder specifying that for the proposed patio I want flags laid down in a 'ring' formation with 200mm of drainage strip around the outer circumference of the outer most ring. The flags are likely to be standard sandstone type flags and I am expecting that the builder will cut these to create the desired effect. I had a message from him suggesting that he could not cut these on site and that he advises that I source ready prepared material from a merchant. The patio is a semi circle with a radius of 4.3 meters.

I am aware circles packs etc are available from suppliers but not ring packs. What is the general view on this builder's statement please?

[Pablo]

Buy the circle and use what you need from it getting someone to make up templates and then cut every flag will work out more expensive. Also the circle will have hand dressed edges which look a lot better than sawn ones.

[lutonlagerlout]

200mm of drainage strip

whats that all about?
as pablo says just buy a circle kit
hand cutting a circle will cost a lot more money and wont look as good
you would be as well to buy one of these from london stone and using the units to achieve your desired semi circle
LLL

[London Stone Paving]

I may have a few outer circle rings at the depot. Will check tomorrow and let you know.

In fact we've got that many odds and sods at our place that we have decided to just bite the bullet and crush it all. Could try and sell it on ebay but we need space urgently and its probarbly less hassle to just crush it

[Khlez]

The 200mm drainage strip refers to a buffer area between a retaining wall around the patio and the proposed paving flags. It is to be filled with shingle and will allow rainwater to drain off the paved area of the patio.

The shape of the patio is a semi circle 8.6m in diameter. I wish to avoid creating a circular 'fan' shaped paving. The idea is to create rows of half rings from an origin radiating outwards and that the rings will be staggered, that is, the joints between the flags will not run in paralle as would in a circle. There is a good photo of this concept on this very site under information for Paving. Thanks btw to those who have made contributions to the answers so far......

[Pablo]

http://www.pavingexpert.com/cut_in06.htm last photo at the bottom
is this what you propose if it is then it's a job for a mason paver not a builder. It's relatively simple to do but very time consuming so it will be very expensive but it could potentially look superb.

[local patios and driveway]

Steve! Cmon. Next time i call needing 20m and umm and err about the cost tell the girls to offer me the gear you want to crush! Win win

[Khlez]

Pablo's link to the Expert pages is spot on, thanks. A mason paver, now that is a trade I have not used before......any thoughts anyone where I can find a tradesman with this kind of a skill set north of London?

[lutonlagerlout]

theres blokes on here could do that
i lovesettsonmondays
cookie
noony
spring to mind
but 100% that is going to cost some big money
i could price it but am booked up till september now so wouldnt have the time
maybe try the marshalls register for specialist pavers
LLL

[Khlez]

Thank you LLL. If I were to supply the flags free issue, and given the surface area to cover, about 30 sq metres, forgetting the base preparation costs etc for now, what do you think the extra cost over and above laying flags in a standard shape might be?