The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:26 pm**

Hi, i'm currently having an Indian Sandstone patio and path laid by a local paving guy (been in the business years and plenty of good feedback).
The patio section measures 2.4m x 4.1m, 4.1m being the width of the house and the 2.4m being the distance between the house and small retaining wall.
Theres a drain in the center of the house and a smaller drain in the corner for the gutters.
Its been 1/2 laid at the minuet, but what has been laid seems to be on a fair old slope, it drops 3" from the retaining wall to the house, and thats only over 2.4m ! Its also slightly sloped to run into either drain.
I'm far from an expert but this seems a little excessive to me, when standing on it you can feel its on a slope, obviously its gonna have to be on a slight slope but surely not a drop of 3" ?
I've got the guy coming to finish the job in the morning (monday), i have spoke to him over the weekend airing my concern but hes saying that thats how it needs to be, saying that indian sandstone needs more of a slope for as its got a rough / uneven finish.
As it is at the minuet i don't think i'd be happy with it, would it be possible to have less of a drop or does it need to be 3" ?

Any advice would be appriciated.

Cheers

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:13 pm**

Hard to say without knowing all the variables, seeing pictures, knowing what type of paving you are using and how riven it is etc

What you have described sounds a little excessive to me though at 1:32 with 1:60 being about the standard for residential.

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:19 pm**

Personally i lay riven stone to a fall of 1:60 assuming i can fall it in 2 directions. or 1:50 if only 1.

Laying it less than about 1:60 you risk pooling of more heavily riven flags.

1:50 over 2.4 metres is 48mm so not miles out from your mans levels, that said a full 75mm is a little bit much, but honestly how accurately did you measure it. and did you measure it in lots of places to avoid chosing a particularly high spot on a riven flag?

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:45 pm**

Aint got any pics to hand i'm afraid.
I wouldn't say any of the flags have particular high spots, no more than 3 / 3.5mm.
I measured it in a few places and got about 75mm (3") each time (give or take a few mm), measured it using a piece of 2x1 with a spirit level in the middle, edge of the 2x1 was at bottom of retaining wall resting on paving, held the 2x1 level then measured to the paving !
You can feel that your standing on a slight slope, not what i was expecting, never noticed any other patios being sloped to that extent.

Thanks for comments so far.

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:18 pm**

I the slope is as noticable as you say then unless there's a good reason like needing to be above the wall footing and below the dpc then I'd ask for it to be relayed. A slope like that will be accentuated when you place a table and chairs on it and won't be comfortable to sit on and tall glasses will spill easily. Basically if there's no valid reason for it then the layer has made a cockup.

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:38 pm**

agreed i would barely have a 3 inch fall over 6-7 metres
if it feels sloped its wrong,but i do tell people that you may get the odd puddle after rain due to the riven nature of the stone
I think thats a fair pay off
1:36 is too much
1:60-80 is ideal
LLL

Posted: **Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:14 pm**

Spoke to him when he came this morning, he set off fairly defensive saying that it had the right fall etc... I managed to talk him round and get to agree to raise it slightly.
The whole lot is now laid (still needs pointed) and it now looks far better, raised up about 1 inch, made a hell of a difference.
Job sorted !

Cheers for the advice

The Brew Cabin

Having an indian sandstone patio laid ... - A bit of advice on drainage please.