The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:36 am**

Hello

In a recent response to a query about laying terracotta it was mentioned that I should:
"Lay paving on 25-40mm bed of cement bound laying course."

I am an extreme amateur at this game and have a few questions that I hope someone can help me with.

OK I have prepared the sub-base, though the fall situation is not entirely right..

The steps I am going to follow to lay 30cm x 30cm terracotta tiles 2.9cm thick

1. Prepare the cement bound laying course at 10:1? Is this right? How much water should I add? Would it be better to have a wetter mix as you have suggested elsewhere?

2. Do I do screeding? or do I just lay the tiles onto the flattened laying course?

3. I would like to have 1 cm gaps between the tiles so..should I 'butter' the edges?..If I did is this a different (wetter mix) than the laying course?

4. I have some effex product to apply..i apply this after the tiles are laid

5. Then put a first coat of sealant

6. Then grout

7. then apply the other coats (after time for drying etc)

I guess my main fears are how to actually get the tiles down properly because there are lots of pictures of slabs etc but none of terracotta..is it the same principle?..and what i the best mix for the cement bound layer?

I'm gonna hire a concrete mixer..should i also hire a plate compactor?? Is that necessary at this stage when the sub-base is already down?

Any advice or recommendations would be most appreciated.

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:39 pm**

1 -wetness of mortar, more properly referred to as 'slump'. See this page

2 - If the tiles are uniform thickness, then screeding is a good idea

3 - depends on how you plan to joint. Only butter if you are going to use mortar joints

Genuine terracotta as apving material is a bit to rare to warrant coverage of its own. Terracotta-coloured or terracotta-effect flags are treated exactly the same as any other patio flags, so again, no need for separate coverage.

You only need a plate compactor if the sub-base is not yet fully compacted,

Posted: **Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:59 pm**

Thanks for this, much appreciated.

I'm gonna go for an 8:1 mix. Still not exactly sure about the screeding as I am going to have to have get the fall in this layer or when the tiles are laid on top.

I'm going to put down a 4cm bedding layer then screed that (perhaps a piece of wood that is straight on one edge but has the angle required on the screeding edge?) then lay the tiles on top of that and tap them down.

I know you're thinking I'm a complete amateur!!

Gotta start somewhere i spose.

The Brew Cabin

Terracotta site prep