Laying a patio

[Andrew Haylett]

I have been given two basic recommendations for laying a patio (circular nature stone, with curving path of stone paviors laid in stretcher bond):

1. Lay on compacted soil, 100 mm compacted hardcore, followed by 50 mm of 5:1 sand and cement mix, and then jointed with mortar mix.

1. Similar, but use ballast rather than sand for the natural stone to create a concrete bed rather than a sand/cement.

Any comments on which is the better approach?

Andrew.

[Capitol]

I have used 3" of 8:1 sand and cement mix directly on top of a clay soil. Still flat after >30 years. Only problem is the ants excavate some of the sand and the odd slab needs resetting every 15 years.

[Martin Bonner]

See

As a general rule of thumb, if you follow his advice it will be built like a brick shit-house. If you are happy with a lower quality finish, you can afford to skimp.

[newshound]

Beat me to it! Laid indian sandstone last year on top of *very* well compacted earth, minimum 50 mm ballast, then up to 50 mm of 5:1. Used a plate compactor on the ballast.