The Brew Cabin

For a 3m square paved area surrounded by 3 earth garden borders and one garden gravel path is it worth putting a fall on it?

I was going to just lay slabs dead level all way round and grout.

It's not as if it's going to collect large volumes of water and where the water does run to is not important.

TIA

Mark

Yes! It is worth laying the flags to a gradient, even over such a small area, otherwise you will be relying on hydrostatic pressure to drain the paving. This means that, as the 'level' of surface water builds up on the paving, it will exert a pressure which forces water to trickle over the edges and lose it self. The drawback with this approach is that you end up with a thin film of standing water for a period of time after the rain stops, and which turns to ice in the winter.

We lay ALL paving with a fall, even when it's only one flag wide around the house. It's just as easy to lay to a gradient as it is to lay flat - in fact, it's easier to lay to a fall!

I know it's easier to lay flags with a fall.

Trouble is, mine fall all in different directions. :)

Seriously, Tony thanks for the info and bothering to respond as usual.

Mark

We've had a few so-called Flaggers working for us who had just the same problem, Mark! ;)