Having read through a number of threads I would like to start by saying it is a great read with some excellent knowledge and advice. I am hoping that this will continue, but, please be gentle as I am new to paving.
I have ripped up my old decking with all the eagerness and enthusiasm you can imagine. Now I would like to redo the patio with 'flags'. My plan WAS:
Excavate the area to allow for the following:
100mm hardcore / MOT1
Whack it down.
25-30mm of sharp sand and cement screed. 4 to1 mix. Dry Mix
whack it down
re-screed with same mix.
slightly rough the surface with rake.
lay slabs
wet them
allow to dry
brush in 3 to 1 mix, building sand and cement for pointing.
Wet it,
Use tool to smooth joints.
Open beer.
All the above seemed to be the general guide, although I could easily have mis-understood along the way.
The area is 60m2 and I am allowing a 1:70 fall with drainage channel connecting to mains. All surrounded by concrete footings with walls / edging.
The Patio will be 100mm below DPC but I am using a drainage channel along the length of house to compensate this.
I though this all seemed ok?
What are your thoughts?
Just to complicate matters, I am using Marshalls Fairstone Granite Eclipe paving, who say it has to be laid on a wet mix which I didn't fancy doing myself on such a large area.
I have had 2 companies round to price, one wanted £4k and the other said in the region of £10K but hasn't come back to me.
I think £4k is far to cheap, even though he wasn't pricing Marshalls it still didn't sound right.