The Brew Cabin

Hi,

I'm about to lay a new patio - unfortunately my earth is very Clay based...
Firstly this is causing me great difficulty in levelling the earth - any tips or suggestions? As it is next to impossible to turn over the earth without extracting large clumps of earth.
Secondly once I have levelled off (does it have to be perfect?) I need to add a sand based/concrete mix on which to lay my slabs I believe? (do I need to add anything further?) And then again after having levelled this area off - Can I lay my slabs directly - or should I use mortar to bed each corner of the slabs onto?
I'm also planning on putting a simple squared pattern of charcoal driveway blocks in betweenst some of the paving slabs - assume these can be laid on the exact same surface - but I need to dig a little deaper due to height?
And lastyly... do I need to butt each paving slab together with mortar - and point - or will it suffice to brush sand/cement between the gaps?
The area i am working on is approx 4.5 x 2.5 M and purely a seating area...

Thankyou

I can't help you with the digging. It's hard work - end of story. On larger jobs where the digging is hard, using a mechanical excavator is the best solution but on a job such as yours, it's just not feasible. Try breaking-up the earth with a pick or a mattock before digging it out.

When it comes to laying, all the information you need is given on the main website, including an explanation of why your notion to use spot bedding (mortar blobs under the corners of flags) can result in you being transported to Van Diemen's Land.

If the blocks you plan to use to create patterning are the same thickness or only 10mm or so thicker than the flags, then there's no need to dig out any deeper than necessary to accommodate the paving and the bedding.

And finally, for the jointing, this depends on the type of flags you plan to use, and the subject is covered in great depth on the main website.