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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:25 pm
by Jimmy Conway
Just wondered what you guys think makes difference between an average run of the mill job compared to a top marks, dogs bollocks job?
Hopefully source some of your experience for my upcoming work so there's no obvious schoolboy errors.
Thanks
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:52 pm
by Jimmy Conway
The photos in "recent work" are inspiring. My plans just slabbing back garden and not on same scale as what you (contractors) guys do.
Just looking for usefull info to make it best I can.
Thanks
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:53 am
by GB_Groundworks
same approach to every job you live and breath on your reputation
i let guys go who think that'll do will do, always go the extra yard costs you sometimes but best to have a happy customer if possible, some are never happy but as long as you can stand behind your work 100% then you are ok
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:40 pm
by lutonlagerlout
best quality means there is nothing better
simple as that
LLL
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 2:00 pm
by mickg
The difference between an average run of the mill job and a top marks dogs bollocks job is the setting out of the paving carried out the best way possible so the laying pattern looks correct in the situation its laid out in, this can vary from project to project so that's where our skill and knowledge comes into play
the laying of the paving being as flat as possible with the correct falls to disperse surface water with the cuts to plus or minus a millimetre so all the joints look a similar size, in certain circumstances the rack of the eye will work better than laying to lines or level, that's where our skill and knowledge comes into play yet again
that's what makes a good paving contractor stand out from a garden maintenance guy having a go at laying a patio who "thinks" he is good at what he does. . .
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:40 pm
by Jimmy Conway
Thanks for reply fellas.
So it's all about the finer detail and don't move onto next slab till one your on is 100%.
Read on site you should be looking for a combined fall of 1:60, my finished riven sandstone patio will likely have steeper fall than that so would it be ok to only having it falling in one direction (fall would be up and down not across) or would water possibly be held in the pointing that runs across (level) and make it crumble over time?
Mick, you mentioned having all slabs as flat possible (consistent plane?) is this harder to do when you've got falls in two directions and would be more exaggerated on bigger slabs?
Want to get it right first time.
Thanks again
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:55 pm
by seanandruby
The falls are a guidance and can be altered to suit, as long as you don't take the piss. Also some jobs will need crossfall and end fall, once again it depends on the job, as each one is different. As Mick says: it comes with experience. Always find the time to step back now and again and have a good look, errors are easier to overcome before going to far. The eye is your best tool :;):
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 12:34 am
by mickg
no its the same Jimmy, a tight line or a combination of lines if required are what you use for your finished height of the paving whether its a combine fall or just one direction, the only time you would have an issue and end up having flags with tapering lips from one to the other is if you try and have too much fall in one direction to get the height down to something lower nearby - you will soon know if this is the case
like sean says step back every now and then from your laying area and have a quick look to see if everything looks right to the eye
sometimes when your on top of the work you are doing you might not see the odd flag just in twist with the adjacent flag, by stepping back and looking from a few metres away you can eye the joint lines from one side of the patio to the other and then make any minor adjustments if required
always finish with a final tap with the rubber maul in the centre of the flag rather to one corner, this helps to eliminate any loose or rocking flags
if it look right to the eye then er indoors is happy too 
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:15 am
by Jimmy Conway
Thanks for responses fellas.
Gave me a useful insight into what you guys look for.
Thanks again.
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 8:31 pm
by flowjoe
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
Henry Ford