The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:50 pm**

We've been asked to lay a patio for a client who ideally wants it to follow the pattern of the kitchen floor tiles. These are 600 x 300mm laid in straight lines (column/rows). This isn't a pattern I've used before aside from an experiment at home!

Just wondered if anyone else had done this before and could highlight any issues.

I am slightly worried that the size tolerances in the outdoor material (cut slate) aren't as tight as the indoor tiles. And as the joints are only 5mm I'm worried any larger slabs will knock the lines out. We had a sample measured that was 4mm wider at one end, so if I only have a thin joint to hide this difference would that not upset the pattern?

Client suggested I could shave down any of the two hundred slabs that were off size!

Be grateful if anyone had any thoughts / advice.

Posted: **Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:57 am**

Any pattern that is based on long straight lines has to be formed using geometrically perfect elements. Our eyes are trained to detect pattern, and any deviation in a pattern becomes instantly noticeable, but because of all that innate pattern recognition, any variation is magnified, seeming bigger and more obvious than is actually the case.

So, 4mm difference in a flagstone seems like nowt when laid on its own or as part of a (deliberately confusing) random layout but once it's lined-up in a regular arrangement, it will look as though it is at least 20mm out of line.

You have to explain this to the client and then they need to decided whether to re-think their choice of pattern or to pay you a nice wedge to 'square-up' all those variable flagstones.

Edited By Tony McC on 1260612865

Posted: **Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:17 pm**

Thanks Tony, those were my concerns so I will have to chat to the client again. He is now looking at "outdoor tiles" so I'll see what he comes back with.

I can't imagine shaving off 4mm off 100 slabs or more and I definitely can't imagine this client paying for it!

I think a different pattern is the way forward.

Thanks for your help as always.

The Brew Cabin

New pattern