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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:25 pm
by tammyswan
I currently have a concrete slab as a front porch and I would like to make it more decorative and also match my colonial style home. I was thinkinf of laying slate over it, but do not know if that is easy enough for a first-timer; if so, where do I begin, if not, what would be a better choice?
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 12:24 pm
by 84-1093879891
What type of slate, Tammy? Slate flags/slabs can be laid on a mortar bed. Use something like a 8:1 mix of grit sand with cement and plasticiser, and make it a workable mix, sort of bricklaying consistency. Make sure the concrete slab is cleaned off and free from dust or laitence, then lay out a bed of the moprtar, roughly 25mm deep. Lift the flag/slab into place and tap it down to level using a clonker (small rubber mallet).
For the pointing, use a stiffer 4:1 mix mortar. I find that slate needs either a very light-coloured mortar, or on ethat is relatively dark, so it might be worth experimenting with a few mixes and dyes before committing yourself.
If you're using 'crazy paving', then you can use the same method for larger pieces, but you might need to use a stiffer bedding mortar with smaller bits and bats.