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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:52 am
by tryifimight
hi great site.
i am doing a drive and it is using tumbled blocks in 3 sizes, anyway these blocks do not have the nib on the sides as with others ive seen,
well i was not sure where to start as the drive has a curved front and
any way i started at area 1 so i cold get a full block right up against my edging on the right hand side of the pic and im working towards the road
I did this as the area 1 was not to a full block size and would have meant i would have had to put cuts all along the return where ive started in area 2
(ive created area 1 and 2 to explain easier)
i will then work back from area 2 towards the house puting the cuts there ( in my opinion looking a lot neater)
i am also putting a string line acroos the drive and laying each course to that as i would whilst brick laying as i found they are slightly differnt sizes and was causing it to go out of line
Is this ok to do
also can i walk on these blocks and lay onto the screed as opposed to keeping on the sharp sand and screeding little sections, then laying
thanks
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:02 pm
by pavetheway
why not leave it to a professional! sounds like you don't have a clue
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:03 pm
by pavetheway
Seriously - its not worth attempting yourself - get someone in to do it for you. I'm in Bristol if that helps.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:57 pm
by pollitt1
I would just like to say that this is a very informative site that give step by step instructions for people like myself and tryifimight to take the challenge and do it themselves, just like the guy from warrington who has pictures up on this site. I have noticed a few topics up here where people have siad, 'doesn't sound like you have a clue, why not leave it to the professionals', I am in the middle of putting down my blocks and although it hasn't been a barrel of laughs, I've got there with the help of this site and myself. I thought this site was aimed at helping people and comments like this don't help to build confidence.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:12 pm
by seanandruby
try, you have nothing to lose by having a go m8. blocks will never fit perfect all the way through, you will need the odd cut, or three. Screed a section and lay blocks from your leading edge, you stand on your blocks and lay on to the screed. That way you keep the sand level. pay more attention to the main site all the answers are there. we will try and help you through. good luck. 
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:38 am
by Dave_L
pollitt1 wrote:I would just like to say that this is a very informative site that give step by step instructions for people like myself and tryifimight to take the challenge and do it themselves, just like the guy from warrington who has pictures up on this site. I have noticed a few topics up here where people have siad, 'doesn't sound like you have a clue, why not leave it to the professionals', I am in the middle of putting down my blocks and although it hasn't been a barrel of laughs, I've got there with the help of this site and myself. I thought this site was aimed at helping people and comments like this don't help to build confidence.
Well said that man!
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:41 pm
by pollitt1
if any other first timers need a vote of confidence then I have just posted some pictures up! Yeh, it is hard, but you get there, you save yourselves money and the feeling of achievement is unbelievable!!
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT...GO FOR IT! WE DID. THATS WHAT THIS SITE IS HERE TO HELP YOU DO!
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:26 pm
by lutonlagerlout
pavetheway wrote:Seriously - its not worth attempting yourself - get someone in to do it for you. I'm in Bristol if that helps.
i dont follow your logic pal??
and you wont be any help at all in Bristol. if he is in kent
its worth him trying block paving as it can be repaired easily if its wrong
and he does sound like he has a clue
thats it
LLL
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:37 pm
by pollitt1
I agree LLL!!!
sounds like someone trying to get a job if you ask me!
We thought exactly the same, if we start it and then mess it up we can always get someone in the rectify it....luckily it didn't come to this.
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:31 pm
by tryifimight
thanks all,
i did not explain properly, the measurement from the house to the return was 2920mm approx, 20 blocks =3040 approx, so this is why i started where i stated,as i personally did not want cuts there( i then screeded enough so i can lay without spoiling until i get enough down to stand on, like with the non tumbled block, but i was a little uneasy to stand on as the tumbled do not feel as tight as the untumble blocks, ( i have done a drive using the non tumbled blocks, and this came out cool)
by trade im a brick layer (not the same as a block pavier i know) and i thought id see how others would start so i can save time in the future, its taken me 1 and a half days to to dig out, set edgings and whack the type 1 on a 38 m2 drive using a pal on the digger a grab to muck away and drop the type1 and start laying on second half of day 2( this is where i scratch my head a bit,LOL)
i suppose i sould have worked out the difference and put the cuts in at the house working towards the road so when i got to the return it would have been a full block, as ill have to put the cuts there when i lay that section (goes red as writes)
i have to say luckily it looks better than my diagrams
im confident it will look nice and be solid, but was after tips, like do i need to check alignment of every course or is this too excessive, ive been doing every course
anyways great site, thanks
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:29 pm
by lutonlagerlout
being a bricklayer should be an advantage over a diyer,i'm a brickie too!!
LLL
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:30 pm
by tryifimight
thanks chaps,
its all finished and looks well,
as i say great site , and im always reading, and more importantly learning,LLL thanks for your comments too,