Generally I think YouTube can be good but just particularly the hard landscaping info I've seen on YouTube is pretty patchy at best.
Back garden - new patio (Indian sandstone) DIY log
- Thread starter Buffman
- Start date
Soldato
Your not the one abusing youtubers though, while then quoting youtubers advice in your posts.
I enjoy living rent free in your head
Soldato
Says the guy whos constantly replying to my posts……I enjoy living rent free in your head
Soldato
Good work so far OP.
Are you doing it entirely with a level?
We will set up string lines at our finished height (falls included) every 6 feet or so, that way you can just tap down a slab, and then use your level on the slab to check with the lines if its high or low, i find this way a lot faster and easier than just using a level.
Its a personal choice, but i would also avoid any long straight joints.
Are you doing it entirely with a level?
We will set up string lines at our finished height (falls included) every 6 feet or so, that way you can just tap down a slab, and then use your level on the slab to check with the lines if its high or low, i find this way a lot faster and easier than just using a level.
Its a personal choice, but i would also avoid any long straight joints.
Used a laser for initial set out of the MOT (there are spot level marks on the fencing pins and house and a level for the rest.
Not sure I quite get you on the string line but now the first run is set I know which way I want it to run.
Yes I've read to avoid long lines and cross joints. Maybe the last row line is a touch long but I was initially following a manufacturer pack (which doesn't go as large as I require) then I will free hand it to keep it random
Done some more today. Done 3 mixes today (each of 3 bags of sand plus cement!) so circa 250kg of mortar in
Didnt help i split a couple and also had to take out some after laying as the size was so far different from others in the pack.
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Thanks for volunteering your expertise...
O/H doesn't think it's that big of a job yet she can't lift a single one of our slabs on her own
The only saving grace is the area is already flat and level with very old concrete slabs in situ.
Had a bad one yeserday
Ground out this tile and realised I mismeasured, also had to grind a couple other tiles as the fitting tolerances weren't going to work/ allow a grout joint (i think it's due to excessive tolerances in the stone and me only using a 10mm joint than say 15mm)
Ive bought a new grinder blade as my porcelain tile one was very slow.
Still got 3 boxes of slabs to fit and this is about 1 and a bit!
Also I'm thinking of what type of shingle to cover the drains. Any thoughts of wether to go more light similar to the slabs or possibly a darker stone for contrast...
Cut well but wrong size
:
Replacement
Ground out this tile and realised I mismeasured, also had to grind a couple other tiles as the fitting tolerances weren't going to work/ allow a grout joint (i think it's due to excessive tolerances in the stone and me only using a 10mm joint than say 15mm)
Ive bought a new grinder blade as my porcelain tile one was very slow.
Still got 3 boxes of slabs to fit and this is about 1 and a bit!
Also I'm thinking of what type of shingle to cover the drains. Any thoughts of wether to go more light similar to the slabs or possibly a darker stone for contrast...
Cut well but wrong size
:
Replacement
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Done a bit since these last pics!
Still got a fair bit to go then got to grout it all. It drained well in all the terrible rain last week.
Still got a fair bit to go then got to grout it all. It drained well in all the terrible rain last week.
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Soldato
Good work.
I'm currently part way through removing all the grout from our patio (also Indian Sandstone) so it can be re-pointed. Takes a while when you have something like 90 to 100 square metres to crawl over.
I'm currently part way through removing all the grout from our patio (also Indian Sandstone) so it can be re-pointed. Takes a while when you have something like 90 to 100 square metres to crawl over.
Soldato
How are you doing this? Need to do mine but only got 25 metres with dodgy knees!
Soldato
In places the old pointing is completely blown out, so pulls out in big lumps with your fingers. In other places it is pretty solid so I've used a combination of tools:
Mortar pick: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X29326
Plugging chisel (with a lump hammer): https://www.toolstation.com/roughneck-plugging-chisel/p49152
Plus, with some man maths [1], I got a Dewalt SDS+ (body only - I already have batteries) which has rotary stop mode along with a 14mm chisel bit. That is excellent for sorting out any really tough sections of mortar. You just have to be careful as you can loosen the slabs. I reckon I've got about 20 slabs that need re-bedding now...
[1] We will most likely pay somebody to repoint it (given the size) and they also quoted to remove the old pointing. I figured I could save a bit doing the manual bit and will also cover the cost of the SDS body
Soldato
Most of mine washed out with the pressure washer. The guys who laid it were pants really, they just brushed in the sika stuff and left it. Some of the was only about 5mm deep due to the way they'd laid the stones so it could all do with digging out deeper. I could do it but my wife prefers to pay someone cos my diy skills are not that great (theory good, practical not so!). I just hate spending any more money on something that should have been done right first time round.In places the old pointing is completely blown out, so pulls out in big lumps with your fingers. In other places it is pretty solid so I've used a combination of tools:
Mortar pick: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X29326
Plugging chisel (with a lump hammer): https://www.toolstation.com/roughneck-plugging-chisel/p49152
Plus, with some man maths [1], I got a Dewalt SDS+ (body only - I already have batteries) which has rotary stop mode along with a 14mm chisel bit. That is excellent for sorting out any really tough sections of mortar. You just have to be careful as you can loosen the slabs. I reckon I've got about 20 slabs that need re-bedding now...
[1] We will most likely pay somebody to repoint it (given the size) and they also quoted to remove the old pointing. I figured I could save a bit doing the manual bit and will also cover the cost of the SDS body
Incidentally, the guy who did it is under investigation from Trading Standards and was on the local news here a couple of months back. We were luckier than most cos at least he finished ours, although not to the standard it should have been. So hard to find someone you can trust to complete these jobs.
Soldato
Loving the progress so far.
Two I would consider are:
Dark shingle to keep in line with the brickwork.
White as a complete contrast and to create an eye catching border between the dark brick and light coloured sandstone.
I think a bright white would end up just getting a bit manky with soil etc.
Soldato
Yeah it would require a spray from the hose more than dark tbh, but would still be one I would consider (perhaps in just one area)
Darker would bring the wall onto the sandstone imo and would work well.
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Associate
That is some serious job there, congrats for perseverance. Its going to look great.
Hah fortunately there is a lot of trees /north facing as I like to sit in the shade....i think for pergolas you need to build a massive lump of concrete underneath.
Ive got another tonne of sand and cement coming today (45 x25kg bags) which hopefully is about right or slightly over.
Soldato
Labour of love there. Looks ace!