The Brew Cabin

Hi, excellent site.

I have just laid a 10m2 patio using Bradstone Peak Rivan 600x600 slabs on sharp sand.

My other half wants me to cut 200mm diameter holes in some of the slabs for planting purposes.

Can you suggest a tool or technique for this. Or is it just not a good idea?

Not a good idea! Those wet cast flags aren't the strongest pavings to begin with, and removing the centre would make them extremely fragile, so much so that they would have to be laid on a full mortar or concrete bed to keep them intact.

If your beloved is really keen on planter pockets within the paving, replace the 600x600 unit with a 600x300 and a 300x300 in a 'L' shaped arrangement, leaving a 300x300 space for the plants.

However, if a circular hole is what is required, then the simplest DIY method is to stitch drill all around - do you know what is meant by stitch drilling or should I explain? The 'professional' way would be to use a core drill, but then, the professional wouldn't want a 200mm hole in the centre of a wet-cast flag!

If these were hydraulically pressed flags, it's possible to cut a hole of almost any shape in the centre using just hand tools, as we had to do as part of our training back in the 1970s, before power saws were common. A dying art, I'm afraid. :(

Thanks for the speedy reply. Think I'll go for the 'it's not a good idea' option.