Advice needed - Loose flags

[bev66]

Hi everyone i am hoping on getting some advice, i paid to have 8 2x2 slate flags laid as a path on tuesday this week as instructed no one walked on them for 24 hours after being laid it is now friday and almost all of the flags are loose and not just a little bit
i have spoken to the man who did them and he has blamed the rain we have had today (which was torrential) and also that there is nothing at the edges of the flags
can anyone confirm if this can happen i seem to think its the mix surely it should of set solid between tuesday and friday i spent a lot of money on the flags and then getting them laid the man is coming back tomorrow but i would like to be more informed before i speak to him
any help would be gladly received

[London Stone Paving]

The rain excuse is not true to put it kindly

1. Slate is not the most porous of natural stones. This low porosity can effect the adhesion between slab and laying course.

2. Your installer should have used a bond bridge. Definiton of a bond bridge is as follows:

"An adhesive layer between paving and laying course to ensure a firm bond between the two. Cement and liquid sbr with water added is an ideal solution and this should be painted on to the back of the pavers.

3. Its quite possible that your installer was not aware of the bond bridge, so maybe if you gently point it out he may be happy to do it again.

4. Also the path needs to be haunched on both sides with a concrete mix

[mickg]

it could happen if your man has laid the flags on sand instead of a full bed under each flag of 4:1 semi dry mixture of grit sand and cement and used a bond bridge

they could also move if he has laid the slate on 5 blobs, one on each corner and one in the middle of each piece of slate

has he used a very weak mixture ?

can you post a photo showing the laying material your man used to bed the slate ?

[lutonlagerlout]

he is talking rubbish
LLL

[seanandruby]

Sounds like he has'nt used mortar, or concrete. hopefully he just used sand, that way he can recycle it, mix it with cement, use a bond bridge and learn a lesson. :;):

[bev66]

Thanks for all the advice, he is due to come round anyminute to have a look so i will discuss with him whats been done
i will keep you posted thnx

[bev66]

well i pointed out some of the issues and he has agreed to come back and relay them on a full bed (he had used dabs ) he did nto know about bonding so is going to look into it and do that too he has apologized and as long as he recitfies the issue what more can you ask for
thanks for all the advice given

[lutonlagerlout]

if he needs any advice tell him to come and ask here
we all have to learn sometime
LLL

[bev66]

hi guys

he wants to know what a bond bridge is i gave him the difinition as listed but didnt know what it was

can someone explain to me what it is, is it made up or can you buy it if so what do i buy

i have tried searching internet but nothing comes up for bond bridge so maybe its also known as something else im not sure

thank you once again
he does not have the internet so cannot come on the forum

[Bob_A]

Explained here. http://www.pavingexpert.com/stonpv04.htm#slurry
Basically you mix some SBR and cement together, paint it on the bottom of the flags and then lay them.

Not all builders merchants sell SBR but you can get it from here and they don't charge for delivery
http://www.toolstation.com/shop....8
Don't let him use PVA as an alternative. SBR is far better.

Only trouble with is SBR is if you spill any it's stains almost immediately, so keep a sponge and a bucket of water to hand.

[bev66]

thank you so much