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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 12:53 pm
by thewickedpickett
Hi I plan to undertake a small garden patio flag project myself and have been researching. I have bought Tony's book and read up on the site. I still have some novice questions I can't seem to find the answer to.
The patio will be very light use and is currently grass. Therefore if I dig it out is the soil/ground underneath suitable to apply the bedding layer to? Does one compact the soil beforehand with a wacker?
Or do I need to go ahead with a MOT1 sub grade onto the soil. I am unsure I will have enough ground depth for this.
Lastly am I correct in saying that using a sand and cement mix as the bedding layer still requires you to individually bed with full mortar beds?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:32 pm
by mickg
soil if wet won't allow the vibrating plate to move, all it will do is bring the water to the surface and make the ground go to mush
lay a geotextile membrane over the soil before you place the MOT, it stops them intermixing together
yes you bed each flag individual
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 3:08 pm
by thewickedpickett
Thanks. Just to be clear then you use a full mortar bed on top of the bedding layer for the flags?
I've read the individual bedding section of the site and it talks about roughing up the bedding material to accept the slab so I'm confused. Does this mean rough it up then add a full mortar bed before laying and consolidation?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 3:44 pm
by seanandruby
Wicked, i think you are getting confused between the sub base and bedding. You can't put two beds. Lay your mot to the required level, compact it to refusal, then you can lay your flags on the bedding mixture. Have you looked on the index as well as reading the bible? Don't over think ìt and stress yourself out, take your time, read up on it before committing to the task. You need to get pleasure from it as a diyer :;): 
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:14 pm
by thewickedpickett
I tnink i've read too much.
So let's say I prepare a sub base of MOT1 compacted down. I then come along with mortar and lay each slab directly to the MOT1 base with full beds? no sand?
And If one has a good compacted sub base already then they can put down sand and just lay them on that sand with no mortar??? Confused lol.
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:16 pm
by thewickedpickett
Edit: posted twice.
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:25 pm
by lemoncurd1702
Layers.
1. Compacted sub-base.
2. Mortar bedding, about 25-40mm. Not sand without any cement
3. Slab/flag
4. Table and chair.
5. Can of beer.
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:40 pm
by thewickedpickett
Thanks. What does this diagram from the site refer to. Is there mortar under the slabs here?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 10:46 pm
by lemoncurd1702
The diagram shows a 10:1 mix of sand to cement, so yes there is mortar under the slabs.
Wouldn't do any harm to go a little stronger than this, my preference is 6:1.
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 10:53 pm
by thewickedpickett
Thanks. If I buy in 'building' mortar that is already mixed and ready for use will it do the job or do I need to mix it myself eg 6:1 ratio?
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 6:53 am
by lemoncurd1702
If you mean those 25kg bags it will cost you a fortune.
Bulk bag sand and bags of cement, quantity depends on how big your patio is.
Hire a mixer they're quite reasonably priced.