Cutting around manholes - Gaps, flags that are cut and may break

[Mikey_C]

[Mikey_C]

[Mikey_C]

in the post above you can see the pictures of recessed manhole cover I'm flagging round/in and have a couple of questions, for the pro's:-

1) do cut and lay tight the outside (frame) of the tray or do you leave the smallest gap your jointing method will allow?

2) bed the tray in first and let it set, then put the flags round later?

Having started cutting notches out of some of the flags, it reminded me that there is chance of breaking, having looked here

3) I have a concerns about the whether the flags I have cut, will survive, or whether they need cutting, to prevent the break. That part of the patio is going to subject to the largest amount of foot traffic. Your considered, professional and experienced opinions please?

When you do continue a cut to avoid breakages do you butt joint the two cuts or do you leave the smallest gap your jointing method will allow. if it is a butt joint then what is the point in doing the cut you might as well just wait and see if the flag breaks and just butt joint the break.

also as you can see in the above I have chosen a manhole cover which has function and reliability, (key based visible lifting eyes over one which has a minimal impact of appearance (recessed and integrated lifting handles) this was a concious decision appearance plays second fiddle to robustness and functionality.

thanks

[Mikey_C]

i've got another slab that I have notched, similar questions:- will it need cutting, joint or butt?

I was thinking i could bed the majority of the slab down and then trowel some bedding underneath the "extra" bit?

[lutonlagerlout]

mikey
i generally find that it is better to cut around the IC first
then you have a level to mark and lay your cuts to
regarding cutting i normally leave a 10mm gap around everything to allow for pointing
if a cut is fully bedded there is no reason for it to snap
indian stone is far stronger than concrete in this instance
in my experience
here is an example of the 10mm all around

cheers LLL

[Mikey_C]

this is what it looked like when I cut it in

[lutonlagerlout]

looks good from here
before you joint it you may wish to open up some of those tight joints with the grinder
do you now know why i hate those small indian stone units :;):
LLL

[Dave_L]

Nice work, looks good

[Mikey_C]

looks good from here
before you joint it you may wish to open up some of those tight joints with the grinder
do you now know why i hate those small indian stone units :;):
LLL

I knew within the first few m2's, why time has been called on the random layout. "*IF*" I ever lay another patio, it will not be random pattern!!

[lutonlagerlout]

to make it work you have to measure every flag and cut to suit
those little ones seem to vary from 285 square to 310mm square
throws everything cock eyed
LLL