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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:55 pm
by GaryN
Tony,
I'm laying a patio this week which will have a circle (saxon flags) and squaring off flags within the main body of the patio. Please could you give me some advice on the best way to set out the circle to get the right fall using string lines. Probably seems a bit of a basic question but I can't quite get my head round how to keep everything right without having to keep moving the string lines, bearing in mind I'll be working out from the centre of the circle.
Regards
Gary
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:39 pm
by steve r
I think the boss has gone walk about this week.
I haven't laid a Saxon circle before, but I have laid a beta block circle and maybe the same would apply.
Put a pin in the centre of the circle and run a string line out to the edge.
Lay the rings to the line, which you can rotate as you go.
Then pull the pin out and lay the centre flag.
Hope this helps.
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:10 am
by lee
Try this.....
make a square shape out of string line to the fall and height required, which should be also larger than the overall finished diameter of the circle pack...then if you place a straight edge from one side of the stringline square across the centre of the circle to the other edge of the stringline square.....that should do the trick!...that's if you are looking to set your fall
hope i helps!
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:23 pm
by Tony McC
Not so much walkabout, Steve, more bedabout. The heat hasn't helped but there's been some 'complications' with my heart over the last fortnight. I thought it would pass; it didn't, and it's been a little bit scarey at times. The medicos have prodded and poked me, injected me with all sorts of potions, made me swallow pills that would choke a donkey, and the good news is that I'm recovering now - only sleeping for 16 hours a day instead of the 20-22 hours I was doing last week, but it's likely to be a few weeks yet before I'm back to what passes for normal in my life.
I really do need to get this 'Laying a Circle' page done at some point this summer. It's becoming too F an FAQ and is a serious gap in the coverage I try to provide.
I can only work for 20-30 mins at a time before Nurse Taz catches me and sends me back to bed, so, for now, the gist of it will have to do....
Lee isn't far off with his suggestions. Establish the levels required at the edges of the square, then use diagonals to establish the level in the centre. Bear in mind that you need a fall of around 1:60 with Saxons (or other textured flags), so allow for the centre to be 30mm per metre higher than the outside edges.
When you have a circle within a larger paved area, you have to work with the prevailing falls, which should be 1:60 as stated, but in just one direction, rather than from the centre to the ourtside, as is the case with a stand-alone feature. Try to pave around three sides of the circle, leaving plenty room for it. This will give you a 'back' edge and two 'sides'. Use the back edge to establish position and then use a string line stretched between the two sides to guide your level, particularly the level of the circle centre stone. If you cant pave the sides at this stage, for whatever reason, use string lines, as Lee suggested, to establish levels at the edges and then use a straightedge or further string lines to transfer those levels across to the centre.
Start laying in the centre and work outwards, completing each ring as you go. You'll need to play around wityh the joint spacing to get the best effect for each ring, so don't point-up until the circle (and preferably the Sq-off kit, too) is completed.
It's a slow job - you need to allow 50-100% more time to lay a circle than it would take to cover that area with 'regular' flags. You need to keep standing back and checking the alignement, the balance, and the levels. Don't rush it, don't expect to get it right first time, and treat it as a learning experience. The next one you do will be much, much easier, believe me!
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:23 pm
by GaryN
Thanks for all your replies, sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.
Here's how it went:
The circle had to sit within the body of a large patio and had to be dead central to a conservatory. I laid a run of slabs along the front of the conservatory and put a string line along the front of the finished depth of the patio. This gave me my correct levels from front to back of the whole patio.
I then put a string line across these two points and laid the centre stone. I was then able to move the string across to either side as I laid the slabs for each circle. Bit fiddly and time consuming but I was very pleased with the end result.
Another question Tony. As this circle sat within the body of the patio I only had the fall from back to front. If the circle was a stand alone one, would I have to have the fall radiating out from the centre in all directions or could I have it falling in one direction?
Many thanks and regards. Hope you're feeling better.
Gary