Proposed site is a 3 * 10 m rectangle. At the moment it is lawned, but well drained. The lawn surface is approaching the 150mm limit to the house dpc, but the flags would end 500mm before house.
I have read ( with great interest) much of the information displayed on this excellent site relating to the laying of these varying thickness flags( your warning about excessive work in adjusting height of individual flags was noted). I notice that individual flags can vary from 20mmm to 35mm, depending on the stone or the pack.
However, to get to the main point of my enquiry. I would like to keep the final surface stone as dry as is practical, to discourage it from developing surface growth which may be slippery in periods of damp Autumn and Winter weather. The area is very shaded, to the north side of trees. The shade is desirable in our current hot spell, so removing it is not an option. The prepartion is going to be a large part of the work, so I want to make sure that I get this aspect of it done properly. What depth of base would be best ( or adequate since I will be moving topsoil). I can arrange for an adequate fall and good surface drainage, so the ground is unlikely ever to be waterlogged.
I inspected the stone ( not bought yet) and the pack sizes seem to vary from 12sqm to 15sqm . The sizes being 60mm sq or 60 x 90mm. I noticed that some split packs were available with different shades/stone in, and even 120 x 60 flags. Some of the shades look good, but is this size too awkward to handle?
The prices are £14/sqm ex VAT, so quite an attractive price, but I have to arrange all of my own transportation.
I could send digital images of the project if you are interested...before during and after. I assume that these would be attached to an email directly to you?
Indian sandstone flags
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84-1093879891
Hi Max,
taking you queries one at a time....
What depth of base would be best?
The bedding should not be more than 50mm deep, but, if you want to lay a sub-base (not essential beneath a patio, but useful on suspect ground or when levels have to be elevated) then a minimum of 75mm is the usual recommendation. 100mm is ideal.
120 x 60 flags - is this size too awkward to handle?
It can be if you're not used to flagging, but, by including a few of them, you increase the random appearance of the stone. I'd also consider splitting a few of the 600x600 squares into two 600x300 rectangles for the same reason. If you rely on just two sizes (600x600 and 600x900) the paving becomes very repetitive and doesn't show off the natiural variation of the stone as well as it could.
And I'm definitely interested in photos - send them as email attachments or post them directly to this forum.
taking you queries one at a time....
What depth of base would be best?
The bedding should not be more than 50mm deep, but, if you want to lay a sub-base (not essential beneath a patio, but useful on suspect ground or when levels have to be elevated) then a minimum of 75mm is the usual recommendation. 100mm is ideal.
120 x 60 flags - is this size too awkward to handle?
It can be if you're not used to flagging, but, by including a few of them, you increase the random appearance of the stone. I'd also consider splitting a few of the 600x600 squares into two 600x300 rectangles for the same reason. If you rely on just two sizes (600x600 and 600x900) the paving becomes very repetitive and doesn't show off the natiural variation of the stone as well as it could.
And I'm definitely interested in photos - send them as email attachments or post them directly to this forum.