Stonemarket yorkstone range - best way to lay

[jelsden]

Hi All,

I have been researching the best way to lay the above flags and have come across a confounding array of advice, the manufacturer suggests using the dabbing method, the people we bought the slabs from suggest using a base of 1:7 cement :sharp sand (dry), some places suggest that mortar pointing isn't necessary, others say it is needed.

Our garden has a fairly solid base layer anyway, so I don't believe a sub layer of hardcore will be necessary (the patio is only for light use).

Also I am going to lay a circle as well as a rectangular patio area, to lay a square base you are advised to start from a corner but to lay a circle you are advised to start from the middle.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

[InfAddict]

Hi, have you looked at any of the pages in the main website relating to laying of flags? Try :

1) Laying Flags
2) Laying Riven
3) Laying to Free Edges

Never use the 'dab' or 5 spot method!!! 7:1 would be ok but a bit strong - most people recommend a 10:1 Sharp to Cement mix.

[jelsden]

Thanks for that info Infaddict, I had looked at all those pages previously and had found them very useful, was just hoping that someone on this site had previously laid that make of flags and had some experience with a successful (or unsuccessful) method, as I am going to be not using the manufacturers instructions.

Also any help on the best way to lay a rectangle shape and a circle would be great.

[Tony McC]

The methods I describe on the site work perfectly well with all of the Stonemarket products, and with every other manufacturers products. Stonemarket make great flags but their laying advice is shite (are you listening, Mr Poole?) :p

I'm not sure what you mean about laying a rectangle and a circle - do you mean you have a rectangular area to be paved? If so, start at a base line on one edge and work outwards. For circles, lay them out dry beforehand so that you get the joint spacing and positioning just right, and then start with the centre stone, laying each ring consecutively.

[jelsden]

Thanks Tony, we are going use a precompacted screeding method to level the sand/cement mix as explained on this site. My only question is that we are going to lay a 2.7m circle. As you are supposed to lay circles from the middle how is this possible without standing on freshly screed base? It might be v obvious, but as far as I can see whichever way we are going to walk on the leveled sand?

Any help would be great
Jo

[Tony McC]

I've described this before, and last summer I almost put together a page showing how circles are best laid, but for some reason, I never got a complete set of photies.

Anyway, working with the Stonemarket flags (or any other wet-cast or natural stone flags) you don't need to worry too much about protecting the screed becaus ethere is so much variation in thickness that, even if you have a perfect screed, the flags will be uneven and you'll need to consolidate them to different degrees to level them up.

Best method is to establish your centre stone and then establish screed rails in a hexagon or octagon (or a dodecagon, if you want!) beyond the outside edge of the planned circle. Screed off from centre stone to screed rails and decide on one point of entry - a single, narrow trackway where you walk from outside the circle to the centre stone. You can redo this 'track' as required when you complete the circle.

If I get the chance, I will try and complete this 'Laying a Circle' page, but, as I seem to be saying more and more often, there are so many other pages "in development", and my time is so limited because of the sheer volume of emails and phone calls the site now receives, that it could take me 6 months before I get the chance to get the page completed.