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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:52 am
by Cwjohnstone
Hi all, I've got ~40m of slate paving to lay across two levels in my back garden but unfortunately I've run out of money and can't afford to pay someone to lay it for a few weeks so have to consider the possibility of laying it myself 
The slate itself is 20mm thick but it does seem to vary and there are 4 different sized tiles.
Ive not really done this before, if I really took my time do you think I could still do it properly?
Any help / tips gratefully received.
Many thanks
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:46 am
by London Stone Paving
Hope you dont mint me saying but you dont seem very excited by the prospect. Laying 40m2 of slate for an inexperienced person is a challenging prospect. Especially if your not really up for it. Is it not worth waiting a few weeks until you can afford it. I know lots of contractors in Kent who would do a good job for you.
Steve
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:30 am
by Cwjohnstone
Hi Steve, quite the opposite im rather excited by the thought, I'm just airing on the side of caution as I don't want it looking rubbish, having not done it before I was just looking for some help and advice. I was thinking of tackling the small lower area (roughly 2m long by 6m wide) first and seeing how that turns out?
The one thing that's in the back of my mind is the bonding slurry I.e how quickly it goes off and it setting before I've made adjustments to get it level....
Many thanks
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:46 am
by Tony McC
Loads of tips and advice on the main website. As for the primer slurry, you have around 20-30 minutes., so no real need to worry about timing. It's keeping it clean that is the big problem!
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 3:16 pm
by London Stone Paving
ha, It was the sad face that made me think that. As Tony says there is an absolute wealth of information on the main site.
Post some pictures on here if you can. Would be good to see the site
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:19 pm
by Cwjohnstone
I'll take some at the weekend and try and post them. The lower area used to be a patio which I took up and used in the sub base for the upper part, now there's thin bits of concrete here and there and in places just lots of sand, one section I trod on and sunk up to my ankles I thought it was a sink hole 
should I just level and compact what I've got and put the sand/cement on top of that? I've had a good look at the main site and very informative Tony, thanks a lot...
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:09 pm
by sy76uk
Not if your sinking to your ankles in it.
A good sub base should be solid and 100mm deep for foot traffic.
Any soft spots in the sub grade need to be fug out and back filled with concrete.