Laying granite flags amongst soil/plant area

[Deansplit]

I am doing a small front garden project (5x1.5m) and want to have a line of granite flags (300x600x60mm) within the soil which will be bark chipped and planted a few plants. The line of flags makes a V shape as it follows the 2 angles of the bay of the house, meeting at a point, so gives 3 equally sized planting areas.

So do I literally bed the flags onto sand? What stops the sand pushing outwards and causing the flags to sink - the solid surely won't be enough to hold it back will it? It will be walked on. Or do I trap the sand in with a row of concrete either side? The soil, or bark chippings, needs to be flush with the flags.

Thanks for any help.

PS. I live on the sea front, so is using sand from the beach just as good as builders sand for what little I have to do? It's less effort than driving to a builder's yard, and free!

 

[Deleted2797112]

I have no idea whether beach sand is the right kind of sand or not but all beaches have an owner - usually either the Crown or private individuals/organisations. So taking beach sand isn't free, it's theft.

 

[Deansplit]

I have no idea whether beach sand is the right kind of sand or not but all beaches have an owner - usually either the Crown or private individuals/organisations. So taking beach sand isn't free, it's theft.

Read more: //www.diynot.com/forums/garden...nt-area.366932/#2787300#ixzz2VANlM1zC[/QUOTE]

I'm talking about a very small amount, maybe equivalent to 3 bags, I'm sure the beach won't suffer - I know it doesn't make it right but people loads their cars with large stones all the time.

 

[r896neo]

forget about all this sand business. You need to lay them on mortar. something like

5:1

grit sand : cement

then haunch the edge with the mortar to stop them moving sideways. Check out paving expert.com for more info

 

[Deansplit]

Beach sand IS gritty

Thx

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I know it doesn't make it right but people loads their cars with large stones all the time.

If you use what other people do as a guide and justification for your actions then there's not much you wouldn't end up doing.