Patio slabs tight to fence boards?

[Maatz123]

Hi,

About to start laying my patio, but haven't decided what to do on my side of the fence.

Do I go right up against the concrete fence boards? and even scribe (cut out) around the fence posts?

As you can see from photo, by time I've got mortar bed the slab will almost slot into the recess, and then I'd had to cut around the fence post..........

Or do I leave gap, as I plan to do on the neighbors side of the fence?

 

[Diver Fred]

You need to ensure the Gavel boards (your words - concrete fence boards) can be lifted out without damaging your laid slabs. Did you have fence errected?

I'd get some old slates and put them upright against the Gavel boards to stop the mortar from filling the reveal in the Gavel boards.

 

[Maatz123]

Hi @Diver Fred

Thanks, fence posts were already here, I added the gravel boards. I received advice to essentially use gravel boards as a retaining wall.

 

[foxhole]

Build a border 100mm from fence and infill gap with pea shingle .

 

[Koolpc]

Birds Eye make good pea shingle too...

 

[Cheslea2010]

Defo 100mm Pea Shingle trench to seperate the 2. You ever know when you might need to replace a post.

 

[Maatz123]

Yeah I think I've settled on having a stone/gravel gap on both sides of the patio now, equal size.

My original ideal was to only have this on the neighbors side for obvious reasons and then go tight to the fence on my side gambling I'll never have to replace post or gravel board.

This poses another question sorry, is it better to over cut the slabs at the fences, lay, then once complete use a chalk line and cut with disc cutter to achieve a nice straight line?

 

[Cheslea2010]

Yes, chalk line all the way or it will never be straight.

 

[Odds]

Use engineering chalk; it lasts longer and less messy.
Maybe consider a coloured gravel or slate for a snazzy finish.

 

[Cheslea2010]

Use engineering chalk; it lasts longer and less messy.
Maybe consider a coloured gravel or slate for a snazzy finish.

Why would you want it to last longer? It needs to last the time between putting the line down and cutting the slabs. 5 minutes? I think any chalk is capable of that.

 

[Odds]

Why would you want it to last longer? It needs to last the time between putting the line down and cutting the slabs. 5 minutes? I think any chalk is capable of that.

you can always keep it for another day.
I find it gives a sharper line in marking out.