Advice on which paving

[nabby68]

Hi
I plan to lay paving in my rear garden, an area of about 60m2 and on two different height levels. In the past we have suffered with moss issues on previous paving as the garden hardly gets any light in the winter months.
So, I’ve been advised that porcelain flags are the only flags that will not retain the moss growth. Is this true? And does anyone have any experience of laying porcelain flags.
Thank you

 

[lonner]

Porcelain slabs...how much!!!

I'd think slate will be fine if it's the smooth type ,still quite expensive but none porous.

Make sure you use PVA in your mortar.

 

[nabby68]

Porcelain slabs...how much!!!

Anywhere between £30 and £50 per sq mtr.

Do you think slate will be ok to suppress the algae/moss growth?

 

[lonner]

Anywhere between £30 and £50 per sq mtr.

Do you think slate will be ok to suppress the algae/moss growth?

Yes, just a spray now and again and a rake.

30-50 m2 plus the hard work so it's your choice, but it must drain somewhere..

 

[nabby68]

Yes, just a spray now and again and a rake.

30-50 m2 plus the hard work so it's your choice, but it must drain somewhere..

What price range am I looking at for skate?

 

[lonner]

What price range am I looking at for skate?

Slate comes in bulk bags. So shop around ,its about £80 a bag from a good local independent.

Somewhere like wicks B&Q will be £120 give or take.

You will need 2 bags to do 16 m2.
Sheet with "Typar pro" or similar to stop rooting weeds 30-50 quid

Diy and save a fortune,its quite easy.
Oh and if its in bags Cut them while the crane is holding them so it pours onto your area.
Or cut and pour onto drive, slate is a bastid to dig out of a bulk bag.

 

[nabby68]

Slate comes in bulk bags. So shop around ,its about £80 a bag from a good local independent.

Somewhere like wicks B&Q will be £120 give or take.

You will need 2 bags to do 16 m2.
Sheet with "Typar pro" or similar to stop rooting weeds 30-50 quid

Diy and save a fortune,its quite easy.
Oh and if its in bags Cut them while the crane is holding them so it pours onto your area.
Or cut and pour onto drive, slate is a bastid to dig out of a bulk bag.

Do you mean slate paving slabs?? Or slate that comes in little pieces used around borders etc?
Thanks for your help

 

[LadyM]

We are in a similar position with the moss and went for porcelain paving but a word of warning the guys who were going to lay it had difficultly as it needs to be spot on with the level and they gave up as were struggling. We are now finding it difficult to get quotes on doing the work.

 

[nabby68]

We are in a similar position with the moss and went for porcelain paving but a word of warning the guys who were going to lay it had difficultly as it needs to be spot on with the level and they gave up as were struggling. We are now finding it difficult to get quotes on doing the work.

Thanks for the advice. Can you elaborate on the issues they had trying to level it?
I would have assumed that if the base was laid level and sound then there wouldn’t be any issues?
Thanks

 

[LadyM]

They were laying on a mortar bed with enough to do one slab at a time, after the first day there was a difference in the level between some slabs of up to 5mm. Which is fine for some paving but not porcelain which needs to be more like 1-2mm tops, otherwise it's really noticeable. So they relaid some the next time they were working but they just struggled to get it really level and on the third day said they couldn't do anymore as couldn't get it to the right standard.

Since then I've done a bit of research and it looks like the method they were using is the hardest one to get a level patio. I know one had never laid porcelain before I'm not sure about the other guy.

When I've been asking for quotes now I check if they've laid porcelain or a smooth sandstone before, I've only managed to get three round and they had different methods they'd use, one would lay a concrete base and use an external adhesive for porcelain, another lays the whole mortar bed, levels, lets it firm up and then 'glues' the slabs with a slurry primer. I've only had one quote back though despite chasing and it was pretty pricey.

 

[nabby68]

Thanks for the reply.

I would think you would have to lay it on a full bed of mortar and with the right mix of mortar would have thought it wouldn’t drop when set. Anyway just looking at alternatives to porcelain but will take your comments on board when deciding

 

[lonner]

They were laying on a mortar bed with enough to do one slab at a time, after the first day there was a difference in the level between some slabs of up to 5mm. Which is fine for some paving but not porcelain which needs to be more like 1-2mm tops, otherwise it's really noticeable. So they relaid some the next time they were working but they just struggled to get it really level and on the third day said they couldn't do anymore as couldn't get it to the right standard.

Since then I've done a bit of research and it looks like the method they were using is the hardest one to get a level patio. I know one had never laid porcelain before I'm not sure about the other guy.

When I've been asking for quotes now I check if they've laid porcelain or a smooth sandstone before, I've only managed to get three round and they had different methods they'd use, one would lay a concrete base and use an external adhesive for porcelain, another lays the whole mortar bed, levels, lets it firm up and then 'glues' the slabs with a slurry primer. I've only had one quote back though despite chasing and it was pretty pricey.

You got monkeys, sorry but there's loads who simply cant lay mortar bed paving.

 

[lonner]

Hi ,im talking slate as in a bag of welsh slate.?

 

[nabby68]

Hi ,im talking slate as in a bag of welsh slate.

Thanks . But I’m after paving slabs?

 

[lonner]

Thanks . But I’m after paving slabs?

Sorry mixed this up with other thread.