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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 9:19 pm
by mattu
As title, patio layer started last week and has been hampered by the rain ever since. He's laid approx 2m2 of Indian sandstone but I'm not too sure on the mortar pointing that he's done. Does this look like it should or shall I ask him to smooth it with a jointer. Will it hold water if it's recessed into the slabs? I've seen people sponge down the joints after pointing which improves the appearance.
Also he's laying them on a full bed of mortar but is using building sand. Is this correct? Have seen differing views on this as some say that sharp sand creates a stronger bed but building sand points up better, I know both are used but are there any I'll effects that one causes that the other doesn't.
Thanks.
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:10 pm
by lutonlagerlout
he should be using sharp/grit sand
the pointing looks fine
2m2 is not a lot of flags laid ,how long did that take?
LLL
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:43 am
by lemoncurd1702
As long as it's not pit sand, which it doesn't look like, then wouldn't worry about the bedding.
The key is in the base preparation.
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:54 am
by mattu
Thanks for the replies, I had just hoped that the pointing would have been a little neater but didn't know now if this was the norm. He's definitely using yellow building sand as there's 7 tonne of it sat on our driveway! Will this be a problem then?
It didn't take him long to lay the first few metres but then we had a downpour so he covered it in polythene and hasnt been able to lay any since. The base is 100mm mot type 1 well wacked down but it has had alot of rain on it over the last few days. Thanks
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 12:21 pm
by Tony McC
Is it my iffy eyes or is that Bird's Beak pointing?
Any pointing which rises above the surface level of the paving is a bad idea. It traps water onto the flag surface, impeding drainage, and it abrades, resulting in tatty looking joints.
Bird's Beak or Ribbon pointing are fine (some say) for vertical masonry, but should never be used with horiziontal paving.
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 11:21 am
by mattu
Thanks for the reply again Tony, I think some of the joints are slightly raised but the majority are flush with the riven on top of the slabs. Should it be visibly dipped similarly to a small through? And should he be wiping the joints with a sponge after? Thanks
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 12:50 pm
by Tony McC
Should be flush or slightly below flag surface.
No need to wipe if the mortar placement is clean. Only wipe if there are spills or snots.