The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:30 pm**

I just thought i'd say a little hello having just registered on the forum. I'm another one of those dreaded northern Irish men hailing from Holywood just outside Belfast.

I'm just a small time one/ or 2 man band doing a mix of Hard Landscaping and Garden Work. Got my balls frozen off pointing up an indian stone patio today and i'm sure i wasn't the only one so thought i'd drop by here to feel the warmth of your camaraderie.

All the best.

Simon

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:42 pm**

Hi Simon I'm a Belfast man to although I'm actually a jock who couldn't pursuade his wife to stay in Australia. Give us a bell if you need any help with sourcing materials.
Cheers.
Paul.

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:59 pm**

welcome to the brew cabin simon
get a big mug o' tea,a packet of hob nobs and have a good nose
LLL

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:59 pm**

I definately will do that thanks. I am open to suggestions for a sandstone supplier! Its mainly 30m or less sized jobs i do in it.

The last few Random sandstone patios i've done I laid tobermore sahara as the customers liked the colours but its dear. I used emerson a couple of times but found the colours not so good apart from the grey.

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:05 pm**

Eglantine Timber in Whiteabbey are about the best for sandstone just now and are around the Â£16.50 mark they have sahara at that price I bet you paid about Â£25 from Tobermore. Emersons are in the hands of the receivers just now and there stock has been sitting a long time so can be very manky and stained by the tanin in the crates. Steven at landscape supplies usually has some stock of sandstone and granite and he's a good fella to deal with.

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:42 pm**

Pablo wrote:Hi Simon I'm a Belfast man to although I'm actually a jock who couldn't pursuade his wife to stay in Australia. Give us a bell if you need any help with sourcing materials.
Cheers.
Paul.

3rd person that I know that has happened to. My Mum didnt like Australia, the mechanic I use couldn't convince his wife to stay and was just about in tears saying it was the best time of his life when I asked him about it and now you

Welcome to the forum Simon. Get some photos up in the recent work thread, make sure site is tidy or Mick will 'ave you :laugh:

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:53 pm**

my mate just came back from a month in Melbourne on a rugby tour ,more fights in 4 weeks than he has had in 10 years

he reckons the aussies are totally unreconstructed and love a good drink followed by a brawl
but i know others that love it and other s that hate it
1 thing for sure,they aint keen on us
LLL :;):

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:56 pm**

Hi Simon and welcome to the brew cabin

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:15 pm**

Cheers pablo.

Yea the tobermore stuff was 25 inc Vat so much dearer and i was a little put off as i got 2 packs of it last summer that i had to send back, most of it was 15mm thick.

I use steven for soil and turf etc but he was mainly stocking the emerson stuff so it was cheaper to go direct to them.

Will give Eglantine a shout, thanks for the info!

Posted: **Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:28 pm**

lutonlagerlout wrote:my mate just came back from a month in Melbourne on a rugby tour ,more fights in 4 weeks than he has had in 10 years

he reckons the aussies are totally unreconstructed and love a good drink followed by a brawl
but i know others that love it and other s that hate it
1 thing for sure,they aint keen on us
LLL :;):

Yeah, my parents were called pome c*nts a few times.

I was born in Melbourne, my sister moved back there last year after 10 years in Edinburgh.

Posted: **Fri Mar 09, 2012 4:38 pm**

Any of the Northern Ireland gang on here recommend a supplier for small quantities of semi dry concrete for setting kerbs etc.

Preferably someone who will deliver as little as a cube and throw it into tubs.

Maybe i want the moon on a stick?

Posted: **Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:32 pm**

Ballast + bags of cement = concrete - delivery charges. = best way

Posted: **Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:33 pm**

Not neccessarily!

I recently converted to using tub mortar for laying stone flags and a cubic metre was 120 delivered.

Now to mix a cube of the same 5:1 you'd need 14 bags of cement and a 1.5t of sharp sand. Not including delivery that's probably 90 quid

The time saved not having to mix it is easily worth the 30 quid difference, not to mention the extra time saved carting the mixer about cleaning up the area and the mixer etc.

So i'm wondering if its the same with small quantities of concrete

Posted: **Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:48 pm**

I had 1 cube of pavemix delivered the other day for a path,cost me Â£163 inc. vat. but i wanted c.30
if you are laying kerbs most blokes find it easy enough knocking up leanmix,around 8 bags of cement and 2 bulk bags would make a cube and a bit cost around Â£100
less if you can buy the ballast loose
LLL

Posted: **Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:56 pm**

Carryduff building supplies or Carryduff concrete are your best bet in north Down and the City or East antrim mortar in east Antrim (surprisingly) the rest aren't interested in small loads. I use Northstone by the Shorts factory or FP McCann in Mallusk for ex works a m3 of 4:1 screed is Â£65 and Leanmix is Â£50 ish. I get them to double the plasticiser and wet the screed up and 1.2m3 fills the trailer and lasts a day just keep misting it. Is building mortar not a b#llocks to lay on. McCanns also sell grit sand for Â£10 a ton. RTU will deliver flagging screed in tubs but they're very expensive .

The Brew Cabin

Hello