Mortar mix for patios - Ejeet calling

[manc_pablo]

So,

I have a job load of concrete flags, 2 tonnes of building sand and several bags of cement. Some enthusiasm and not much idea!

I have an area laid out for a patio, MOT-ed, compacted etc, but I am unsure what mix of sand:cement to use. I have been trawling the internet for advice and get mixes from 5:1 to 10:1.

From what I can gather, a moist or semi-dry mix is the best option for a novice. What difference do all these different strengths make? I like the advice here, seems v sound but is in a minority as to the strength.

Paul

[Tony McC]

If only someone had asked this question before!

Eejit click here

[manc_pablo]

Ok,

I appreciate that this question has been asked here before and I have been reading the info.On here and other sites. But I am not a builder and have no experience and there is conflicting info (see below for example)

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/homegar....00.html

I bought the sand from a builder merchant, told them what I was doing and they said building sand. Reading here, sharp sand is the way forward.

I should have worded my question different: given I have building sand and this weekend to do sommat with a patio (and no, cant order something different), what would you recommend? If the patio cannot be 150mm below the DPC, you bend the rules. If the patio can't slope, you bend the rules and put a drain and soakaway in. How can I bend the rules?

Paul

[seanandruby]

:laugh: nice one gaffer, that.'ll make me laugh all the way to bogner. SMSL.

[Tony McC]

Conflicting info? You choose which advice to follow: that given by some eejit on a jack-of-all-trades site or that provided by someone who has done it for a living for over 40 years.

Do you really think I'm likely to say anything different than all the text I've put into the main website?

[manc_pablo]

I took my advice on the sand from a builders merchant. Would have hoped they knew what they were talking about.

Guess not. Appeared screwed.

[Dave_L]

The curse of the builders merchant raises it's head again!

The places are full of non-builders giving advice!!

[David 1234]

"I should have worded my question different: given I have building sand and this weekend to do sommat with a patio (and no, cant order something different), what would you recommend?"

Why can't you order something different? For the small cost of some sharp sand get the right stuff and do it right and sleep at night knowing that your sand won't go all fluid and the slabs won't move around which is exactly what happened to the patio that was in my house when I moved in.

[lutonlagerlout]

bend the rules???
er no,you cant bend the rules
if you bend the rules it becomes a bodge
and its better to have nothing at all ,than a bodge
that link you sent obviously misled you and i am sure the mrs is on your back,but better to wait a week and get the right stuff than mess it up,
good luck
you will need it
LLL

[manc_pablo]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I might need some sharp sand

The link I posted is one of several suggesting building sand. Mis-lead.....would seem so. But if you do a google search on laying a patio you will get mixes from 3:1 to 10:1 with building and sharp on the first page of results. Bimbling ejeets have to start somewhere.

[Tony McC]

...and there's nowhere better to start than here!

[Rich H]

Unfortunately, there are plenty of sources of bad information ranging from Tommy bloody Walsh through to Builders' Merchants and even the paving suppliers themselves.

Suggested reading (on this site):

Tony's link above
All about DPC's and what to do if you can't get to 150mm below
Falls and drainage

It's all covered and more. You need go nowhere else but here!