The Brew Cabin

Hi there,
I am flagging an area of about 8 sq meters around the dog kennel for the dog to use as a run. I have been told that I can lay 3 x 2 flags directly onto 50mm crusher run as it will also assist with drainage. Not sure about this, can you offer your advise please?

It is possible to lay the flags directly onto a 50mm crusher run, but it's bloody hard work! That's why we prefer to use a grit sand - it makes the bed preparation 100 times easier!

The bit about crusher run inmproving drainage is rubbish. It's no different to using sand bedding.

With dog runs, you really need a gully present so that you can swill down the area with a hosepipe from time to time. If you leave open joints in the paving, the urine finds its way into the bedding, and the sub-base or sub-grade, and begins to stink after a few weeks. :(

thanks for your advice :-}

I will use 2' x 2' x 2" flags on a gritsand base (minimum 50mm) and butt joint the flags. I was planning on having a gentle slope towards a boundary wall where I was going to put some limestone down, about 8" wide x 12" deep. We used a similar set up before we moved house (already built) and kept smell to a minimum by bleaching/hosing down regularly.

Do you think this is ok or have you any more advise?

Been having a good look round this site and I must say it is one of the best around. Not just for flagging but in ease of use and the flow it has between topics. Don't know how you get the time to keep it up to date ... nevertheless, I and lots of others are grateful that you do.

thanks

Hi Tony,
following my ealier mail, will the 50mm grit sand be adequate. I estimate about 1/2 ton for 24 2x2 flags ... is this about right
cheers
Troy

You'd know better than I about looking after dogs and their toilet habits (I'm not a dog lover; they tend to chew my ankles ) so, if it's worked before, it should be ok. I know from the times we've installed paving at kennels that they've used a gully or a sump to collect the wash-off, but then, that's for several dogs, not just one or two.

As for your bedding sand -

24 2x2s = 24 x 0.6m x 0.6m = 8.6m2

@ 50mm bedding = 0.43m3 @ 1.8 T/m3 = 0.8T

...I'd order a tonne (or one of those big agg bags) as it can always be used to knock up a bit of concrete or for extra flagging. Make sure you order grit (or coarse or sharp) sand and NOT building sand.

And the reason I have so much time to create and maintain the site is that I've been forced into very premature retirement due to an accident and I'd do anything to avoid having to watch daytime TV all day, every day! ;)


Let us know how you get on.

Hi there,
sorry about delay getting back.
Completed this job in August over long weekend.
Your estimates were spot on and at the end of the job there was 1 flag left over.
Using the ratio of 10:1 was brilliant. Didn't think it would work but it did. Digging out seemed to take forever! Now its been down for a few weeks it looks great and my partner was surprised by how good it is.
The aching limbs went away within days but the nail I damaged when I trapped it between flags is a good few weeks off being fully repaired.
As i didn't have the time to do another area of 10 2x3's last week I got a flagger in. Yes he was a lot quicker than me but we don't think the job is as good as mine.

Brilliant site Tony, keep it up, sure I'll be back, probably next spring.
;-}

Great to hear it all went well for you - send us a pic of your work. :)