Question on brick steps - Steps

[Tomas]

Hi,
I am currently building a set of steps (5) up to the front door of a private house.
The risers are being formed with brick and for the threads i am using Acheson & Glover Country Cobble 150x200x60mm.
I intend to bed the Country Cobble on the brick using mortar with a 15mm overhang.
I am concerned that over time the paving will work loose as it has no frog or holes that will help key the mortar to the brick.
I will be butt jointing the paving and brushing in paving sand to fill joints.
Will this method work??
Thanks
Tommy.

[lutonlagerlout]

I would use SBR in the mix tommy and keep the overhang to a minimum maybe 25 mm
also need to be 3:1 sand:cement
best to prime the bricks with SBR too
how will you stop the sand coming out of the gaps in the cobbles?
will they be jointed?
silicon maybe?
LLL

[Tomas]

Hi LLL,
Thanks for reply,
What is SBR?
Didnt think of Silicon../good idea.
I may end up mortar jointing edge paving on step thread for extra strength but kind of want to avoid it.
Has included a photo of set out for info.
T.
http://postimage.org/image/1zrrbxijo/

[lutonlagerlout]

sbr is this
basically its like a turbo version of PVA,stick s like sheet to a blanket
I always use it on steps as steps are a stress point
also its water proof which pva is not
maybe a bead of clear silicon just inside the leading edge of the blocks to stop the sand migrating out
either that or you lay them with a mortar perp but that may ruin the effect
LLL

[Tomas]

Thanks LLL
Some good advice there!
T.

[local patios and driveway]

My favorite method is similar but i use a very dry mix 4:1 sharp sand, and a cement slurry with sbr to bond the block to the dry mix. You will not be able to seperate the block from the mix after that.

[Tomas]

Hi LP&D
Just to clarify..
you use 4:1 sharp sand mix as Bedding for the paving?
where does the slurry come in? do you dip or paint the paving block with the cement/sbr slurry mix before bedding?
I was going to use a soft building sand to bed the paving as i was thinking it might bond better.
Thanks for your post..
T.

[lutonlagerlout]

sorry tommy i should have said ,3:1 flooring sand :cement and SBR
much stronger than building sand
LLL

[rab1]

We`ll let you off LLL but just this once.

[local patios and driveway]

Tomas i mix the slurry to a soup thickness lay the mix then pour slurry on dry bed,
try to cover the bed, but remember any more than 4 or 5 blocks at a time the slurry will begin to dry out fast.

[Tomas]

LP&D thanks for that...think i will lay the blocks on one step tomorrow using your advice and leave till monday and see how i get on.
Just was a bit concerned about blocks working loose over time...dosent look good!!
LLL thanks for heads up on SBR something new learned!
T.
http://postimage.org/image/2lrvza8w4/

[lutonlagerlout]

step looking sweet tommy
risers and treads look even just remember minimal overhang
people love to stand on the overhang and rock back and forth :;):

LLL

[simeonronacrete]

For using Ronafix (SBR) to bed the blocks on the treads and the risers see Ronafix for bedding mortar

[Mikey_C]

are you filling the void in the those steps? and that may be more of question for the pros rather than the op.