Wondering which type of sand to put with cement for your concrete mix? To get the best results, use sharp sand. It’s perfect for patios and gardens, and will prevent moles or rats from tunnelling underneath the paving slabs. STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO LAYING A PATIO Now, on that note, one of the questions we often hear at Bridge Street Stone is: how can I lay my paving stones on sand? And to be honest, the simple answer is simply – don’t. It’s perfectly possible to lay your paving slabs on sand, and indeed many people do, but it’s not something we recommend here at Bridge Street Stone. Here’s why. Why shouldn’t I lay my patio on sand? To make a DIY mix of sand and concrete, start on a sunny day with more sunny days forecast. The slabs should be dry. Scrape out the old cement or dirt or leaves. Blow off the patio or use a shop vac to vacuum up the debris. Finally, while the sand layer does help to improve drainage, it is not as effective as a full mortar bed at preventing water from seeping beneath the slabs. This can cause the sand to wash away over time, leading to further instability and potential damage to the slabs. Once you have excavated the area, add a layer of MOT Type 1 to the bottom of the hole. This will help to improve drainage and prevent the sand from washing away over time. Lay in two courses of 50mm each and compact down between layers. Step 2: Add the Sand

patio grout and jointing compound guide to maintain your Best patio grout and jointing compound guide to maintain your

It works in exactly the same way as the Sika FastFix but I feel is beaten simply on price. You get about 15% better value for money on the Sika range and given Sika is a faultless product, I can’t justify the extra spend. Especially when a tub will give about 7m2 of coverage with big joints, so it can soon add up if you have a decent sized patio. For a strong bond between joints that will ensure no failure, you have to cut reasonably deep, at least an inch evenly all the way along the channels to ensure you get a good bond from stone to stone. Once the polymeric sand has set up, heavy rain won’t hurt it. But if you have just finished applying polymeric sand and it hasn’t yet set up – like in the first 24 to 48 hours – then you’ll need to protect your patio from a downpour. Use a tarp or plastic sheet. The two cement slabs will always be expanding and contracting independently, so you need to fix it with something that is a little flexible – not cement based.Here’s the guide that’ll ensure you get the job done properly. A guide to patio grout brushed in properly for a lasting job For large patios or driveways, we recommend that you hire a cement mixer. A mainstay of a professional paver’s arsenal, a mixer allows you to make one huge batch of mortar in one go. And, as long as the mixer doesn’t stop turning, the mortar will not set before you’re done laying it. What you’ll need to make mortar with a cement mixer:

How To Repoint A Patio | Create A Neat Finish | Checkatrade How To Repoint A Patio | Create A Neat Finish | Checkatrade

If you want the best results, then yes, you’ll still probably need sand to lay your paving slabs. Crucially though, it’s not enough on its own – you’ll need to use it as part of a concrete mix (otherwise known as mortar) that will help to secure your paving slabs in place and maximise their lifespan.There’s no need to go any further. This is a self setting patio grout so the job is now done. The Sika takes about an hour and a half to start to set on the surface and you really need to leave it a whole day before it’s fully hardened, in my experience using this product. This was a warm sunny day so it would probably take considerably longer if it’s cold. Clean and seal your patio after Here’s a great reference on polymeric sand and pavers. How Long Does it Take For Polymeric Sand To Set? Building / Soft / sand is rarely bone dry so tends to clump together and not flow freely like kiln dried This depends on the weather a little. If it’s hot and sunny, most polymeric sands will set up between 24 and 72 hours. For those of you who aren’t aware, polymeric sand is very fine-grained sand that has just enough cement added that, with water, it sets up to stay put.

Sika Fast Fix Paving Jointing Compound My review of the Sika Fast Fix Paving Jointing Compound

Creating a patio on sand is a popular and cost-effective way to add functional outdoor living space to your home. While it is a relatively simple process, it is important to approach the task with the right tools and materials, and to be aware of the limitations of this approach.Yes. You should always fill expansion joints. Expansion joints account for cement’s natural properties of expansion in the heat and contraction in the cold. Be sure to choose a flexible sealant. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to lay your slabs. Finally, we come to the actual laying of the paving slabs. Your paving slabs need to be laid firmly, making sure they’re level with the surface around them, while also maintaining a 10-15mm gap between each slab.