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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:18 pm
by williams
I have just quoted a job where the customer wants travertine block paving, the individual blocks are approx 250mm long and 125mm wide iirc.
They are 30mm thick. so more like tiles really.
Now i initially thought that laying them on lean mix would be the way to do it (as much as i hate rigid paving)
Then he showed me a video on youtube of the same block being laid on a driveway in the states. i certainly wouldnt want them on a drive. But they were laying them on sand and compacting them (saying that i have been to the states and never seen so much crap paving in my life, it was like 'pikeys do america'
Now my fear is if i lay them on a sand screed like normal paving then will the wacker destroy the travertine? I think its quite a hard stone, but some blocks/tiles look what i can only describe as hollow.
So what do the other pavers here think?
cheers 
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:48 pm
by mickg
have you got a link to the video ?
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:10 pm
by bodgeitandscarper
Travertine = 5h1t, looks good in a bathroom though!!
Another great comment from Bodge
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:40 pm
by williams
i cant find the video but i know i saw a vid of travertine tile type block things laid on a drive, there was a wqacker plate there on the drive, i can only assume it was compacted
the more i think about it the more i think it will be ok, i,ll have to use a smaller wacker plate as mine is a great big diesle monter and will destroy them
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:26 am
by lutonlagerlout
dont go there m8
travertine is soft stone and will fail on a drive
there are various stone products for driveways if they want stone but not travertine
i think you may have seen granite or summat else getting wacked but not travertine
LLL 
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:29 am
by williams
lutonlagerlout wrote:dont go there m8
travertine is soft stone and will fail on a drive
there are various stone products for driveways if they want stone but not travertine
i think you may have seen granite or summat else getting wacked but not travertine
LLL
Hi mate, its on their patio, i definately wouldnt think its clever on a drive.
What do you reckon about patio? 5:1 lean mix or sharp sand?
cheers
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:15 am
by bodgeitandscarper
Its shite!!!
Rubbish!!
Crap!!
But if you want the cash and wont be around for any comebacks........ yeah go ahead. If you take pride in you're work, give it a miss..comprende!!!!!
But it still looks good in a bathroom!!
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:00 pm
by lutonlagerlout
I would be tempted to prepare a concrete raft to the fall then lay them on a mortar bed
i would be worried about such a soft stone outdoors though
LLL
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:51 pm
by henpecked
Saw it done on project I worked on, 50 odds sq mtrs, 3 house straight on wackered sand with a sub-base and haunched on the radius 
Dont know if it walked as of yet.........might be a few rockers as it was over a year ago
HP
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:07 pm
by bodgeitandscarper
Bathroom!!
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:52 pm
by lutonlagerlout
we had a lady wanted a travertine bath,quoted £7000 just for the bath!!
LLL ???
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:33 pm
by williams
Its a tough one due to being in the position where i could do with the work. He has already bought the stone so no issues there.
To put a raft in and muck them down will cost a fortune, and he wont go for it, hes convinced sand will be ok as hes seen them laid on it and seen this video.
Maybe all i can do is quote it for sand as thats the way i think hes going either way and just make him aware i,m not liable for any problems unless it sinks or the edges give.
Not much more i can do i dont think.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:58 pm
by henpecked
williams wrote:Its a tough one due to being in the position where i could do with the work. He has already bought the stone so no issues there.
To put a raft in and muck them down will cost a fortune, and he wont go for it, hes convinced sand will be ok as hes seen them laid on it and seen this video.
Maybe all i can do is quote it for sand as thats the way i think hes going either way and just make him aware i,m not liable for any problems unless it sinks or the edges give.
Not much more i can do i dont think.
Best way mate. I 'perlioned' a few for counter weights for the garden parasol, some of the more 'crunchie' like examples just shattered in the frosts. If its what he wants, it will be the easiest way to lay and walk away.
Some people just wont have it any other way so dont worry about it if youve told him all you can;)
HP
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:03 am
by Tony McC
If your man wants them lkaid on a sand bed, then do it, but get him to sign a waiver excusing you for any liability when (not if: when) the blocks shatter under a plate compactor.
You *definitely* need a sole plate to minimise breakages, but even with one fitted, you *will* lose corners and a good number will crack.
Travertine is shite for paving, but sometimes you just have to let the customers learn by hurting their pockets.
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:23 am
by seanandruby
Make sure you get paid up front :;):