The Brew Cabin

Absolutely fantastic web site!! I do a lot of projects fixing up my house, and this is one the best sites of many I've found. Thanks!

I'm laying about 700 sq.ft. of flagstone patio in my backyard, and had planned to use 2-3 in of "paver bed" sand (as it's called here) to dry set them, then go back and mortar all joints when done. Didn't plan a sub-base as the ground is rock hard already (needed a bobcat to dig in to grade yard to new level)

After reading through this site, I plan to use sand/cement mix (maybe 8:1), and mortar joints as I go. I'll tie up some level strings to help me keep in line as I go.

Lots of pics on my homepage that show recent progress (as well as past few years of work on the house). And I was just hoping for some tips or advice (or just a vote of confidence with our plans).

I have about 7 tons of flagstone, 3 types/colors - "Three Rivers Flag Select", "Arizona Sunburst Select", and "Blue Stone Flag Regular" (all from www.KRCRock.com) - to go down on the patio. All about 1.5 - 2 inches thick.

(There's also about 5 tons of stone in that waterfall in the back corner in the pics. And some 3-Rivers as veneer on the new block wall along back.)

Again, any advice would be greatly appreciated, if I can explain anything more from the pics, pls let me know.
And if you're ever in San Diego I'll certainly owe you beers! (And you should look into hashing over there - seems like you'd enjoy it! I think this is near you - http://www.richens.demon.co.uk/hash/warwed/wed.htm)

It all looks fine to me. :)

You've a bit of work to do in trimming up the flagstones to get neat and tidy joints, but your bedding and jointing plans seem as good as anything else I've heard about from your side of the world.

The flagstones seem to be what we might call 'lightly riven', and so you can get away with a fall of only 1:60 or 1:70, which makes your guests feel a lot more comfortable, and when they're comfy, they spill less! :)

Not so sure about the 'Hashing' - I can cope with the drinking part of it, but I'm afraid my days of running, or even walking at a normal pace, are over and done with. I suspect it would be another case of "I'll wait here and guard the beers while you lot run yourselves silly....!" ;)

perfect! just "guard" the beers! (or at least shortcut to get to the beer first - which is what I do) ;)

thanks again, and I'll certainly keep checking out the site - lots of good info!

Let us know how it goes, and send some photies, if you get the chance. :)