The Brew Cabin

I am wanting to lay 45cm sq paving as an 8 by 8 chequerboard. That sounds straightforward. The trick is that I want the 'white squares' to be soil so that I can plant these spaces with cottage garden plants. The flags are not going to get heavy foot traffic but nontheless I want to secure them to prevent rocking etc. Initially I was going for the spot technique but I can see problems. Can anyone advise on methods or techniques appropriate to this type of project. I've waded through the website but I haven't found anything similar. Many thanks in advance.

Knock up a timber 'frame' measuring 450x450 to use as a 'spacer' while laying the pavement. You could use a single piece of 15-18mm ply or make a square from roofing laths, whatever you have to hand.

Lay the flags on a full bed of semi-dry mortar (say 6:1), and allow the bedding to spread beyond the edges of the flags by 450mm or so, You can then use a few trowelfuls of extra mortar bedding to 'haunch' the edges of the flags, thereby holding them firm.

Use the template-spacer to align the flags as you lay them, and remember to keep checking your levels. Move the template-spacer along as you progress.

Lay all the flags first and then leave them for a couple of days to hardem before topping up the empty spaces with your selected topsoil.

Good luck!

Excellent, that's quite clear. I appreciate that.

The land has a slight gradient. It may look a bit odd if I go for levels. It would be flush with the lawn on one side but on the other side it'd be standing 15/20cm or more above the lawn, (creating a small unnecessary step).

If I were to run the flags with the gradient of the land what would be the best way of ensuring all the flags run to the same gardient. I was assuming a straight edged length of metal or wood and string would do the trick. Am I on the right track?

PS.
This website is really a fantastic resource. I'm sure you know it but it really is.

Cheers again.

Use a taut string line as a guide to maintaining an even degree of fall. You can use two lines at eiter side of the paving, or, if you're really keen, use an individual line for each course. I reckon a line at ech edge and one down the centre should be more than ample, as you can then use a straightedge timber to chek for accuracy.

Assuming your pavement is 3.6 x 3.6m (8 x 8 flags @ 450mm each), then you really only want 75-100mm of fall at the most. Anything more than that will feel uneasy when you stand on it. This means that you're not going to be able to 'absorb' the 150-200mm of gradient that the site has, and so you will need some form of retainer at the higher edge. I'd suggest you use a simple edging kerb to contain the paving at this edge, and then, perhaps, you can build up at the back of the edging with some of the excavated soil and so make it look more comfortable in its environment, and less like a patio that has been plonked down.

Hi Tony,
Thanks for all your help.