Paving suggestions for porch - Concrete or stone

[Aalindo]

Tony,

All understood, and many thanks.

I am talking to Steve from London Stone Paving reference Yorkstone at the minute. Won't be long until i make a decision, so watch this space for pics!

[Aalindo]

Had our hearts set on it, but it looks like yorkstone may be cause me a few issues.

I definitely need 1or 2 steps from threshold to drive (see this thread)

http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin....t=12452

but because the stone will not be a uniform thickness (40-80mm) laying the bullnose steps will be tricky.

Is there anything i can do to the risers to deal with the variation in thickness?

How would you put 1 or 2 bullnose steps in this porch?

[lutonlagerlout]

thats a nice lump of a house
but the chimney looks too small for me?

I would have the first bull nose level with the front of the piers

I don't know what's happening with the drive but half way between your finished floor level and the drive height

LLL

[Aalindo]

Thanks LLL. Still deciding if 18months in a caravan was worth it!

Ran out of money before we had a driveway or any hard/soft landscaping was done. Been at this stage for over a year now. Saved a bit of cash so need to get cracking but will need to do the work myself (hence bombarding the forum with daft questions).

Have included a pic of the back of the house so you can see the extent of the work remaining. The chimney might also look right from this angle!

Appreciate your comments ref the steps, but what would you use for risers and how would you deal with the variation in thickness in the flags? Apologies if i've missed what you're getting at!

[lutonlagerlout]

its hard to explain exactly but the ground levels look good so I would have 1 bullnose step at the front say 2.5 courses down the brickwork and pave the whole interior with maybe 12 mm of fall to the drive area
any risers a small foundation and bricks like the house

your bedding accommodates variations in the flag thickness

ideal bedding is between 40-60mm thick

cheers LLL

the chimney is huge!

[Aalindo]

LLL,

Many thanks. The chimney has made for a great fireplace in the living room. Herringbone brickwork instead of slate under the woodburner, it looks brill.

I'm happy that i can hide the difference in thickness within the bedding material in the bulk of the porch, but, at the step, the flag will sit directly (albeit with a bit of mortar) on the riser so i can't see how this'll work.

Apologies if i'm just not getting it!

[Aalindo]

Hello all,

It's taken a while, but we finally decided on a stone: buff, sawn yorkstone from London Stone. Thanks for the recommendation (great customer service, delivery etc.).

Below should be some images of how the stone should go together.

My plan is to construct a concrete base, followed by concrete blocks that follow the form of the steps. The stone should then 'stick' to the blocks to form the steps.

Any extra hints/tips/tricks to achieving this would be appreciated (although I have a fair idea having read the website and London Stone's laying guide).

Finally, i'm looking for a recommendation as to what to use for the pointing. I'd like a colour fairly similar to the buff stone, unless anyone has seen a contrasting colour that has worked well. Whatever the colour, the pointing material would need to be firm enough to point the bullnose treads where they overhang the risers.

[lemoncurd1702]

A brushed in product dsuch as Marshalls weather point would eliminate any staining.
Use some duck tape under the overhang until the weather point sets.

[Bec@LondonStone]

Hi Aalindo - thanks for the order - that's going to look great and I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the Yorkstone, it's beautiful. We do two separate pointing systems. The Larsen is a cement-based mortar (available in a few different colours) which is designed to be applied with a mortar gun. Alternatively, there's the brush-in GftK mortar which, again, is available in a range of colours. If you want any more info just let me know Bec

[Aalindo]

Many thanks for the replies.

Duct tape idea sounds like a winner.

The Larsen product also sounds good, especially as it comes in a buff colour and have a mortar gun. I will be in touch shortly, providing i actually get round to doing something other than just reading this forum!

[lutonlagerlout]

the duct tape doesnt stick too well with mortared joints
we use a little piece of batten or a brick to hold the tape in position till the mortar has gone off a it
cheers LLL