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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:32 pm
by ilfordjedi
I need to pave a small area of my back garden and not having attempted paving in the past, decided to read up on the subject. According to the books I've read so far I should be bedding them down on about 3 inches of sharp sand.
However, whenever I see Tommy Walsh laying slabs on Groundforce, he always seems to be laying them on a wet mix and I wondered if anyone here could suggest what this mix consists of?
I'd prefer to use a wet mix as it seems easier to just plonk some down and tap the slabs down until I'm happy.
Thanks in advance.
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:27 pm
by tommyswrong
tommy uses a magic mix, consisitng of building sand and some sharp sand mixed with cement, the ratios if i remember rightly, are 5 building, 2 sharp, and two cement to a creamy texture. dollop down the mix and whack a slab on top, easier to level like this than using a bed of dry sand/cement mix but wait for it to set before walking on. tommy uses a wet mix for speed. but either way is as good.
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:40 pm
by Tony McC
I have never understood why a building or soft sand is needed in Tommy's "magic mix". There's no need for it; it adds nothing to the overall structure, and the mix recipe is far too heavy on the cement. The only use we have for soft/building/masonry sand on site is when pointing the joints. We would NEVER bed on soft sand or a mortar made using soft sand, and it is actually in breach of the Code of Practice (BS7533:4) for flag laying, which specifies a grit sand. I also disagree that laying on wet mix is easier - tell that to the flags that 'float up' when their neighbour is tapped down!
I've been laying flags for almost 35 years and there's no way that laying on a wet mix is quicker than semi-dry.... no way ... never! Most professional flaggers lay on dry, semi-dry or moist mix and NOT a wet mix. What looks fine on telly often bears no relation to real life!
Any books that recommend laying flags onto 3 inches (75mm) of sand should be burned or used as bum wipes as thay are a waste of good paper. You should select your reading material more carefully. 
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:16 pm
by ilfordjedi
Tony McC: What mix is the 'right mix'. Would I be right going for a weakish 5 or 6 sharp sand to 1 cement?. I'm a bit new at this lark and want to get it right first time 
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:00 am
by ilfordjedi
Just read another thread and it looks like I need a 10:1 semi-dry mix. Cheers.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:02 pm
by Tool
The semi dry screeded bed is the best way for laying flags, i do a 6 sand 1 cement mix and screed it on batterns it works a treat everybody has thier own ways but i find this the best.
The only time i use mortar is when i am laying bricks or blocks, i think tommy's way is no way quicker than a semi dry mix, in fact i think a screeded semi dry would be faster.
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:34 pm
by mattrgee
3 inches of sand!!! I might be wrong but I think the info on this site suggests 30 - 50mm
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:16 am
by Tool
i don't mix mine anymore i get the ready mixed mortar in the tubs, they do a semi dry that is used for floor screeding and it works a treat and saves money.
anyone else use ready mixed
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:30 pm
by Nigel Walker
Depending on the weather.
If it is dry and the forecast is good, I will collect 0.7m3 of screed mix at a time. It costs £60 + vat per m3 to collect.
This costs slightly more than mixing yourself but saves a lot of time.
If the forescast is not to good, I will use Bulk bags of sand and bags of cement to mix my semi dry bedding. This way if the weather turns nasty, you can pack up and come back another day.
If you use ready mix and the heavens open, you either have to use it and get wet or you waste it.
I agree that the ready mix is of better quality and is easier.
Nigel
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:01 am
by ilfordjedi
Thanks for all the replies. I reckon I'll go for the 6:1 semi dry mix as I had the bags of sharp sand craned over my back fence a while back so I only need a couple of bags of cement and I'm ready to go. Speed is not really an issue as I'm not built like Mr T and as I'll be doing the job on my own I'm quite happy to lay a row of slabs per day :;): .