Page 1 of 2
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:52 pm
by Garyginge
Hello
I'm about to create a slate floor using the 'slate on edge' method in Paving Expert. As Welsh slate is so expensive, I want to use waste slate seen around the likes of Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. I am quite limited for money so would like anyone's advice on suppliers etc for free or cheap options.
Thanks in advance
Gary
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:20 pm
by GB_Groundworks
http://www.pavingexpert.com/stonpv02.htm
half way down for anyone looking for it
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:32 am
by cookiewales
Garyginge wrote:Hello
I'm about to create a slate floor using the 'slate on edge' method in Paving Expert. As Welsh slate is so expensive, I want to use waste slate seen around the likes of Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. I am quite limited for money so would like anyone's advice on suppliers etc for free or cheap options.
Thanks in advance
Gary
looked at the link thats more like old slates than waste.you would get them from roofing outlets ie damaged ones you could get upto 4 pieces from each slate .the waste you see in the big piles is more for walling and water features .take a ride up the horse shoe pass lots of free slate there pick your own.or take some tools with you and split it there less weight to carry good luck 
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:24 am
by ilovesettsonmondays
Always nervous going up horseshoe pass I hate heights
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:39 pm
by Tony McC
Horseshoe Pass is more fun on a motorbike - and then you can get a crappy cuppa at the Ponderosa once yu get to the summit.
Slate waste suitable for slate-on-edge is best sourced from a local roofing contractor. Slate waste in general means anything from tiny flakes and scalpings up to 2m long unworkable blocks such as those piuled up as mountains outside Nantlles near Caernarfon
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:46 pm
by lutonlagerlout
that kind of slate on edge detail looks a total bollox to install and and even bigger one to maintain
IMHO
LLL
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:53 pm
by Tony McC
It's easier to install than you think, and requires less maintenance than you'd imagine.
The installation is simply bedding pieces down with no jointing. The trick is to get fairly regular depth pieces and have them pre-trimmed to width. As for maintenance, slate is hard to get dirty, so a quick sweep every now and again is all that's really needed.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:45 pm
by cookiewales
Tony McC wrote:It's easier to install than you think, and requires less maintenance than you'd imagine.
The installation is simply bedding pieces down with no jointing. The trick is to get fairly regular depth pieces and have them pre-trimmed to width. As for maintenance, slate is hard to get dirty, so a quick sweep every now and again is all that's really needed.
dont go walking bare foot on it tanked up at the bq :p
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i think the OP was talking about indoors gaffer
imagine all the crud that would get caught in those eensy weensy joints
LLL
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:06 pm
by Garyginge
Thanks for all your guidance this far. I have been pointed towards some plum colour slate around llanberis. I would also welcome your advice on other colour locations (free slate that is).
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:16 am
by henpecked
Ta Giles. It did get my 'WTF-o-meter' twitching :;):
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:29 pm
by digerjones
Garyginge wrote:Thanks for all your guidance this far. I have been pointed towards some plum colour slate around llanberis. I would also welcome your advice on other colour locations (free slate that is).
my dads family is from llanberis, lots of slate. i could maybe point you in the right direction. my dad showed me some slate damp coarse on top of a montain last summer. it was made then they went bust. think the quarry shut in 1969.
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:40 am
by Tony McC
lutonlagerlout wrote:i think the OP was talking about indoors gaffer
Doh!
The best source of 'free' slate tends to eb farmers in and around the quarries who have unofficial stockpiles that they occasionally allow you to plunder in exchange for beer vouchers. 20 quid will buy yuu a tranny-van or trailer full of the damned stuff.
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:20 pm
by Pablo
I'm confused surely you couldn't use this method indoors it'll cut your feet to pieces and if a child fell on it they'll look like they've been through a cheese slicer or am I missing something.
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:13 pm
by Garyginge
Hello everyone,
Digerjones, it would be really helpful to have your contact in llanberis.
I'm sorry everyone, I wasn't very clear about my floor. It is an external floor for my garden. It will have a Celtic dragon as the main feature. The whole floor will be slate vertically inset into the ground. The dragon will be set into the ground horizontally to my garden wall, and the rest vertically to the garden wall. I hope to use various coloured slate to help the design along.
I would prefer free slate as funds are limited and others materials will absorb my only cash.
Thanks again