The Brew Cabin

I want to lay reclaimed, 6" square terracotta tiles on a new patio adjacent to the rear of the house. I'm not sure what the base should consist of, how deep each layer of material should be, nor what I should fill the gaps (which I want to keep to an absolute minimum) between the tiles with. Should I lay concrete on hard core, then a layer of mortar on top of that?

Should I use lime in any of the mixes and do I need a damp proof course? Finally, what incline would you recommend?

You need a concrete base, around 100mm thick, laid over a damp proof membrane, as described on the Concrete Hardstanding page, and then the tiles should be bedded on a layer of Class II mortar (see mortars page) and pointed with same. You can use lime in the mortar, if you wish, but it's not essential.

The fall will need to be around 1:60, certainly no less than 1:80.