The Brew Cabin

Hello Great site,
I'm going to be laying my first garden patio soon, (15m sq, using Marshalls 'Chancery' flags), and I need some advice. I've read the 'laying flags' section but just want to clarify a few points.
Do I need to create a sub-base using DTp1 hardcore?
OR
Can I bed directly onto a bedding layer of coarse, grit sand?

The manufacturer says that the flags should be layed on a bed of mortar due to their manufacturing process, so do I lay the mortar on top of the bedding layer?

Thanks for the help & the great site, its a god send to us manic DIYers.

You don't need a sub-base unless you're building up levels which would require the bedding layer to be more than 50mm in depth.

When it comes to laying them, use the 10:1 semi-dry bedding mix I keep banging on about. It is a mortar, but is easier to work than a wet mortar. You can use this directly over your prepared sub-grade.

Does that make it clear?

Thanks for the reply Tony,

See if this sounds like overkill or underkill.

I'll first lay a 40mm deep bedding layer of coarse grit/sand, then a 25mm layer of 10:1 semi dry bedding mix, onto which I can bed the flags.

Then I think I'll have a beer or two!! as long as I can still manage to use my arms.

Thanks Again Guru

Why do you think you need 40mm of sand and 25mm of 10:1 dry mix? It's either/or, not both!

As I said previously, just use 35-50mm of the 10:1 dry mix and forget about the sand bed.

Right got it, Thanks Tony - I'll let you know how I get on!