Least problems possible! - Which slabs to pick?

Rich H · Post: # 35895Post **Rich H** Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:43 pm

Another one

And another

Deffo my favourite

Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:03 pm

nice work all!
looks like romex in your second one rich?

i had an enquiry about a job i priced 3 months ago,client wants to know can i *do * something with the price

whatdyathink? shall i tell him its gone up Â£500?

LLL

Post: # 35908Post **Tony McC** Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:58 am

Don't be mean. LLL. Knock off the 99p!

Rich H · Post: # 35912Post **Rich H** Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:23 am

lutonlagerlout wrote:nice work all!
looks like romex in your second one rich?

i had an enquiry about a job i priced 3 months ago,client wants to know can i *do * something with the price

whatdyathink? shall i tell him its gone up Â£500?

LLL

Thanks, Tony. Sadly not. It was bleeding Sika Pave - one I did about three years ago and the first one that I re-pointed with mortar!

kiddo · Post: # 35957Post **kiddo** Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:29 pm

Hi guys. Great Pics - those patios look really nice. I've decided to stick with the Wickes slabs after all as I wanted a grey slab close to the look of granite - without the cost!! haha.

I was intending to lay a dutch pattern, but now I am leaning to just using 600x600s and laying them in a 45degree stretcher bond fashion, with a nice dark mortar to finish.

Do 600x600 lend themselves to this layout, or should the slabs be more like 600x900 etc?

I've searched the web to try and find a photo of such a thing, but to no avail. Do you guys know where I can see such photo?

Post: # 35962Post **Tony McC** Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:14 am

Like this....??

...sorry for the corporate stamp but a certain other website has a penchant for helping itself to my copyrighted drawings and photos, so until my lawyer closes them down, I have to protect my intellectual property.

kiddo · Post: # 35968Post **kiddo** Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:32 am

Hi Tony. thanks, that's perfect.

600x600s laid in that fashion obviously DO work.... they look great.

kiddo · Post: # 35998Post **kiddo** Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:26 pm

Hi folks,

For the sake of an extra Â£200, I'm considering getting Purestone Granite 600x600 pavers, instead of the Concrete Wickes slabs but could anyone answer the following questions ?

1) Does light coloured Granite suffer from efflorescence type problems or any other discolorations?

2) Do the undersides need sealing before laying ? For example, can a moist bedding layer cause discoloration problems or does damp coming from the earth cause darker damp spots to appear on the slabs?

3) Are laying Granite Slab more difficult than a basic concrete slab, as far as an amateur goes ?

4) Are there any disadvantages of granite over than Wickes Concrete Slab that I might not have thought of ?

5) Do you know if the Purestone Granite pavers have a roughish texture or are they completely smooth ?

Thanks so much!

Rich H · Post: # 36005Post **Rich H** Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:25 pm

1) No eff - it's too dense to absorb cementitious material all the way through the slab
2) damp 'spots' only really occur in the first year after laying - once the cement is cured it doesn't happen much if at all. Granite's density is such that you don't get much transfer of moisture from the bedding course to the surface.
3) No technique difference but I prefer a wetter mix to get a good bond
4) I don't know - what have you thought of?!! Seriously, for a patio I'd always choose natural stone over concrete, and granite is the king of materials for my money. Not that I've got any.
5) Pretty sure they're rough as in not polished - why not give them a call?

Post: # 36074Post **Tony McC** Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:37 pm

Some (not all) of the G603 silver-grey granite can be affected by damp patching which seems to stem from the porosity of the stone and the substrate onto which it is laid.

I've seen a number of alleged 'fixes' for this problem, but the best seem to involve the same key ingredients...

a) - a slurry/bond bridge daubed on the underside
b) - a moist or wet mix full mortar bed
c) - mortared joints (cement or resin mortar)

...the slurry varies from contractor to contractor. Some use PVA+cement while others swear PVA is a waste of time and use only SBR+cement or a proprietary bond bridge product.

The bed does seem critical. The worst instances nearly always involve semi-dry mix or unbound sand, but then I have seen flags that are completely unaffected laid on grit sand.

Overall, granite is usually an 'upgrade' compared to most DIY-shed brand concrete paving.

kiddo · Post: # 36087Post **kiddo** Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:01 am

Hi Tony and Rich, thanks for your input.

Seems like Granite may have some side effects if your unlucky then ?

I viewed some Granite at the weekend, and think I might be better off with a Riven, which would help disguise any inperfections in my laying

I'm stumbled across thisâ€¦ Seems really nice but why is it so cheap ?

http://simplypaving.com/view....122

Rich H · Post: # 36088Post **Rich H** Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:33 am

It's middle of the road in terms of pricing for sandstone. Like most of the big producers, this will be good stone, ethically sourced. You'll find cheaper but will need to check the quality (minimum thickness, etc.) and satisfy yourself about the source if that's something that is concern for you.

Granite and sandstone are completely different stones. Granite is extremely dense with low porosity. It is usually 'flat' and will either have a mottled or polished finish. Sandstone (of the type we've been discussing) is produced by splitting large blocks and hand finishing to a certain size. Each slab will be unique and there will be variability of thickness and size, although the latter is usually a minimal variation. Sandstone is much more porous so you WILL get damp patching in the first year of laying and possibly beyond.

Money aside, it's really an aesthetic choice. Which stone type will look/function best in your application? Sandstone is so popular because it's really affordable these days and is easy to maintain - a pressure washer used annually will keep it looking as new. Granite is much less common and gives an appearance of high quality.

Don't be fooled into thinking that a riven surface on a slab will cover laying mistakes; quite the reverse. Highly riven slabs require skill and good judgement to lay correctly to prevent trip hazards and puddling.

Post: # 36111Post **Tony McC** Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:26 pm

I *know* this isn't G603, but it's a good example of the sort of damp patch problems that can affect some granites if they are not laid properly...

kiddo · Post: # 36149Post **kiddo** Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:31 pm

Cheers Tony and Rich, you 've helped make up my mind, especially with Tony's last photo!!!

Im gonna go for the Bradstone Riven. Cheers guys!!

kiddo · Post: # 36256Post **kiddo** Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:14 pm

Hi folks, so I've whittled my choice down in colour and style and am trying to pick between 3 now, they are all very similar.

Pavestone - Sandstone in Light Grey

Bradstone - Natural Sandstone in Silver Grey

Global - Sandstone in Castle Grey

The problem is, although some local-merchants have these flags on display, they don't have them stocked in the colour I want (which is a light grey), so although I can see the product in terms of quality and style, I can't see the colour. Anyone got any recommendations on these ?

Also - every photo I have seen of the Pavestone slab in Light Grey loks NOTHING like a grey. Does anyone have a decent photo of what it really looks like ?

Cheers