laying paviours with lean sand and cement

[mpooley]

I have been told by my builder that if i want to lay the paviours for the very large patio with sand and cement mix it will take four times as long as using just sand!
He says that all levels must be perfect because the sand and cement will not allow drainage.
I can see that but surely the levels should be perfect anyway??

the reason we want the sand and cement mix is to stop the ants burrowing in to it and mucking the levels up. Which is what happened at our old house.

Can anyone advise me please should i stick to my guns and get someone else to do it? or is he right?

thanks

Mike

 

[WabbitPoo]

Well, I would be inclined to agree with you - the levels should already be sorted for drainage so he shouldnt have a problem really. The only drawback might be he cant screed the whole lot in one go, but instead will have to do it in smaller batches, esp. if its raining. Talk to him some more - see what his problem with it is.

BTW, despite being a landscaper, I don't lay block paving so I'm only using common sense! Other experts will no doubt be along in a mo.

 

[noseall]

we would always lay narrow, block paved pathways on sand and cement, as this alleviates the need to wacker or compact.

compacting narrow runs of block paving is a little bit hit and miss. the blocks may not sink down as uniform as one would like. this may result in 'ponding' on pathways with very little fall and particularly with path's that are sandwiched between two houses.