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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:39 pm
by DNgroundworks
Yep not bad at all, i was expecting a mess lol, beds look deep though? Not that it matters, where are the flags from?

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:02 pm
by lutonlagerlout
looks pretty good from my study :)
LLL

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:02 pm
by Forestboy1978
Well cheers, I wasn't expecting that lol!

I am happy with it so far I gotta say. Messed up by that drain. Got to put 2 small ones next to each other. In retro I wish I had moved the brick course over and shunted the drain cover too so it didn't have to be incorporated into the patio.

I've almost finished the basic prep now. My worries now are cutting out the raised bed areas straight and the whole edge up the fence side. Thinking of laying down planks as a guide? I just laid everything roughly cut so I didn't have to measure every single stone and I could cut after the fact if you know what I mean. The other worry is the mortaring. Gonna use coloured mortar for the first time, bit apprehensive about it.

but on the whole, it seems cool. Still got to build the verandah, greenhouse, etc etc etc but getting there.

Thanks guys :)

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:09 pm
by Forestboy1978
DNgroundworks wrote:Yep not bad at all, i was expecting a mess lol, beds look deep though? Not that it matters, where are the flags from?
The beds are deep. I cocked it up slightly. Loads of mortar. Think I've used 35 bags of cement and 5 tons ish of grit sand. Really liking the 4 to 1 mix. Leaves room for error if nothing else. If the mix is 2 wet I can throw in some sand to dry it and it's still a 5 to 1. Can't do that with weaker mixes, gotta open another bag of cement. Like making a cup of tea too sweet, can never remedy it.

Can't remember where the stones are from exactly. Ebay. Never again, some of them don't have any right angles lol and talk about riven. Never again

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:21 pm
by Forestboy1978
Oh I forget, cheers for that btw Haggi :)

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:40 pm
by Forestboy1978
I stepped on the edge of 2 flags that were done yesterday. They hadn't been mortared to the edge cos it was being cut away. They popped up.

Do I need to grind out the mortar and re mortar. I heard epoxy resin is pretty bomb proof for this type of thing. Is this true and if so where can you buy it in large quantities for a reasonable price. Don't fancy spending £200 on 40 tubes of araldite lol. Are there any other options?

Cheers

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:53 pm
by andpartington
1/2 a shovel of cement in a bucket and add water so you end up with a slurry (no sand and don't make it to thin)

pour it on the slab and the bed spread it about with a brush put slab back MUST be the way round it was layed 1st time leave over night

will stick like sh*t to a blanket :)


andy

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:58 pm
by Forestboy1978
Star :)

thanks for that. That's a handy little trick that I'm sure will be forever usefull!

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:26 pm
by lutonlagerlout
Forestboy1978 wrote:I stepped on the edge of 2 flags that were done yesterday. They hadn't been mortared to the edge cos it was being cut away. They popped up.

Do I need to grind out the mortar and re mortar. I heard epoxy resin is pretty bomb proof for this type of thing. Is this true and if so where can you buy it in large quantities for a reasonable price. Don't fancy spending £200 on 40 tubes of araldite lol. Are there any other options?

Cheers
1 why? no one in our game steps on the edge of anything

2 far easier to remove the slabs and the mortar at this stage than piss around with cement slurry or resin

slightly worried as to why they *popped* up

LLL

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:14 am
by Forestboy1978
I left too much of an overhang on some flags around the raised bed area. I should have roughly cut them too large but instead I mortared under 2/3 of the flag knowing I was gonna cut half away. I basically been hopping around over freshly laid flags with a disk cutter attached to a hose pipe and a plank of wood all yesterday. Prolly should have done something else and waited untill today.

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:20 am
by lutonlagerlout
ahh
well you will know better next time :)
LLL

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:11 am
by London Stone Paving
I agree with Tony about just relaying the popped up slabs. By the time you have fannied around it will just be quicker to lay. Also about the bed being too deep. thats a good leasson to learn earlier on. lot of wasted time and wasted materials

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:33 pm
by Forestboy1978
Well finished cutting and laying everything today. What an absolute pain in the ass. I have'nt got a photo yet cos it was getting dark when we finished.

Used a husqy dont know model. Not particularly great. Revved like a humming bird and I could taste petrol in my mouth. Used 5 litres of the stuff as well. The water pipe hangs out of the side. I'd of thought that something as fundamental as having the water feed under the thing was obvious. Seemed well balanced though, straight cuts were easy. Not gonna do another angled patio as long as I live.

Re relaying those flags, I agree if for no other reason than I don't fancy waltzing around with a bucket of cement over the patio and avoiding splashing etc. So disc cut it all up or bolser away the top inch and add new mortar?

I'll post pics when it's fully finished. Oh how long after mortaring would it be wise to leave it before I give it a good scrub. 2 days?

Cheers

FB

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:16 am
by lutonlagerlout
48 hrs yeah
cutting is where its at FB
thats what separates the pros from the am-drams

LLL :)

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:49 pm
by Forestboy1978
lutonlagerlout wrote:48 hrs yeah
cutting is where its at FB
thats what separates the pros from the am-drams

LLL :)
Cheers LL!

48 hours it is then! :)