Wickes

[Bob_A]

This years project is a 60sq metre Patio that will only receive light foot traffic.
I’m consider myself a good DIYer and I enjoy and get great satisfaction out of doing my own work (although I do work at snails pace) so I intend to do the work myself.
To be honest I haven’t had a good look around to see what materials are available but I did notice that Wickes have got 25% off their Wentworth Paving until 15/5/09.
Is it any good? I read on here that Wickes are probably supplied by Marshalls.
I’m guessing that by having uniform thickness slabs/flags they will be easier to lay or is not that much difficult if the slabs/flags vary in thickness?



Available in store
Wentworth Calder Brown 38mm thick
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Decorating-Tools/Wentworth-Paving/invt/210854
Prices range between 300x300=£24.84 and 600x600=£20.12

Available to order
Wentworth Elite 45mm thick
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Home-De....2
Prices range between 300x300=£58.93 SQM and 600x600=£41.70 plus an extra 15% off on my 1st online order

Available to order
Wentworth Old Yorkstone 38mm thick
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Home-De....7
Prices range between 300x300=£44.31 and 600x600=£30.50 plus an extra 15% off on my 1st online order

Available to order
Wentworth Yorkstone 38mm thick
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Home-De....6
Prices range between 300x300=£44.31 and 600x600=£30.50 plus an extra 15% off on my 1st online order


Are the above good value or should I be looking elsewhere.
Like I say I haven’t really had a good look to see what’s available locally ( I live SE London bordering NW Kent) but suppliers here in the South East are generally expensive unless you are trade.
How do the above prices compare with ‘proper’ natural products, I don’t mind paying a little more for quality but I hear there are a lot of poor quality natural products about that can be difficult to work with.

Budget?
I like the sound the prices of Wentworth Calder Brown but would consider doubling the price but only if the product was exceptional.


Thanks for reading
Bob

[lutonlagerlout]

bob all the flags you posted are wetcast concrete,albeit med-high quality
for around £21 a metre you can get indian sandstone,and for around £30 a metre you can get sawn and polished indian sandstone
if you are going to put your cojones on the line i would go with natural stone every time
LLL

[henpecked]

We have a Darlaston Builders merchants near by, cheap a chips but I would never buy from them as theyre crap(and thats being nice)
So I went to local Wickes, I said

'You do price match?'

'of course ,sir ' came the reply.

'Well' I said 'price match that' and gave him their catalogue.
MOT came in at £30 a bag,same on sharp sand, ordered over 300 quids worth (over 500 in wickes money) then said 'Oh yeah, its a tenner delivery too'


Took 1/2 hour for paramedic to arrive



HP

[lutonlagerlout]

a mate of mine used to do it when lathams had special offers on estwing tools,he would get the pricelist then go to b&q where they had a double refund on stuff that was cheaper
that way he got his estwing hammers for about £15

I think the sheds have got wise to this sort of unscrupulous practise now :;):

LLL

[henpecked]

a mate of mine used to do it when lathams had special offers on estwing tools,he would get the pricelist then go to b&q where they had a double refund on stuff that was cheaper
that way he got his estwing hammers for about £15

I think the sheds have got wise to this sort of unscrupulous practise now :;):

LLL

As my old dad would say 'It would be rude not to' :;):

Came in handy as all the stuff came bagged up, so no unnecessary shovelling. Blue circle cement at £2.75 a bag too!
It amazes me that these places are penny wise and pound foolish, for example, even if theyre selling at cost or just below, it means the competitor would lose a sale. Obviously, if this goes the way the marketing is intended to ,he goes bump eventually. More business for Mr Wickes. But as is the case all the time, the multi million pound conglomerate moans about losing a few pennies ,while Billy Two Buckets down the road can still sell stuff at a lower price.

Rant over

HP

[Bob_A]

bob all the flags you posted are wetcast concrete,albeit med-high quality
for around £21 a metre you can get indian sandstone,and for around £30 a metre you can get sawn and polished indian sandstone
if you are going to put your cojones on the line i would go with natural stone every time
LLL

What sort of suppliers are we talking about?
Local independant suppliers.
Well known companies like Jewsons/Travis Perkins
Or are there companies that will deliver throughout the UK?

I've seen suppliers on ebay but god knows what you'll be buying!

[Injured]

There is a build center near me that is selling Indian stone for around £20 per metre but I get it cheaper from a local merchant and it is good stone.

[lutonlagerlout]

jewsons and TP are generally expensive for joe public,i use gibbs and dandys or butterfileds but they are based in bedfordshire. look around bob ,shop around too
people want to shift stuff
LLL

[Bob_A]

I’d be really grateful for some more advice please.
Another major reason for doing the job myself and something I forgot to mention is access problems.
The only access to my garden is through the house. This means through the hallway, dining room and conservatory.
Assuming I could find a company who doesn’t mind the hassle I still wouldn’t fancy people moving muck and materials through the house, however much care they take.


I’m a bit limited with places to go but I’ve been to a couple of DIY and Garden Centres to look at some natural flags.
What is putting me off is the flags I’ve seen so far (Bradstone and Pavestone) seem to be far more riven than expected and vary considerably in thickness. I know that’s normal for a natural product but I was hoping for a more smoother riven surface and more uniform thickness.
I consider myself a good diyer with results to prove it but my flag laying experience has so far been limited and not fully tested.
My question is are these type of flags more suited to professionals and should I play safe with a concrete riven flag with a more uniform thickness , or am I worrying too much?

Or should I just go for sawn and polished stone that LLL described, I haven’t seen any yet but I think I’m right in saying they tend to have a more uniform thickness?

And finally are natural flags really that much better, I keep reading about staining problems and are generally thinner than concrete flags.

Regards
Bob

[sydneycity]

Take a look at rock unique perhaps? As listed on the suppliers page. Not too far from you are they?

[lutonlagerlout]

yes bob naturals are better
for starters they are millions of years old, and they just have that look about them

As for access ,i have said it before anything is possible if the money is right

the job i am doing at the moment they have blocked all access to their rear garden ,but BIG BUT we built the retaining walls and flagged the new patio before we blocked it off.

its just a question of time and money

better off going to builders merchants rather than sheds,i cannot recommend any though as i dont go south of the river :;):
LLL

[sydneycity]

What's it gonna cost LLL to help me out in Hitchin?

Guess you've got too much on?

[lutonlagerlout]

As much as i can get :;):
LLL

[Bob_A]

Have listened to LLL and probably will go for proper sandstone and will avoid the sheds.
Rock Unique looks good Syd. I will take a trip there with the missus.
Will also consider ordering online from someone like simplypaving.
The project will begin shortly, at my work rate and with a bit of luck it might be done in time for Christmas :laugh: