Step 1: Planning

Before starting any project it is important to plan which materials you need and when you will need them - doing this will ensure that you won’t purchase any materials you don’t need and that they arrive on-site in the correct order.

• Take a piece of graph paper and select an easy to use ratio e.g. 2:100cm (so every 2cm on your graph paper is 100cm in your garden).
• Start your plan by drawing in any fixed objects (such as buildings). Next, make several photocopies of this plan to allow for many brainstorming sessions!
• Roughly sketch ideas onto your plan, and once you have a design you feel happy with draw in the areas selected for paving fully (using your ratio as a guide to sizes). You will now get a good feel for how your garden will look, and have the advantage of knowing exactly how many of which size and colour flags you will need. Move the flags around if extensive cutting is needed - this will save both time and money.
• You can take this design to your local dealer. They will prepare it for you, and you should have the flags delivered 2 or 3 days before your project begins and store them on dry, solid ground near the working area.

Step 2: Site Preparation

Ensure good stability for years to come by making sure the area is firm and fully laid. We recommend all vegetation and topsoil is removed to a depth of 200mm, and at a gradient of 1:60 away from any buildings to allow for drainage. Then, lay at least 75mm of deep sub base (available from your local dealer) and compact, making sure there are no voids left. Finally, apply a layer of sharp sand and compact this to 35mm deep, ready for the flags.

Step 3: Laying

Start by laying full flags adjacent to the building that’s most prominent in your design, leading out towards the edge that can be most easily adjusted when laying. If this is not possible, starting from a corner and laying outwards in a fan motion will provide the best result. For most of the Stone Emporium range, the “5 dab” technique is a great easy way to lay the flags. Using a wet mix of 5 parts building sand : 1 part cement, set out 5 large dabs of mortar (one in each corner and one in the middle) and run a bead along the 3 sides of the flag away from you to act as the pointing mixture later on. Check every 3 flags for level, and if adjustments need to be made then simply lift the flag and add more mortar until the surface is even.

Step 4: Pointing

Pointing on Stone Emporium’s products is best done as you go along during step 3. After a few square meters or 15 mins of laying, go back over the area just laid and rake and smooth out the mortar between the joints (an old broom handle often does the trick). Take care not to get any wet mix on the surface - it will leave stains. If any has slipped on then wash off immediately with warm water and a sponge.

Following these simple steps should give you a durable and beautiful natural stone paved area suitable for foot traffic of any kind. For natural stone driveways, Stone Emporium’s driveway line should be laid onto a minimum sub base of 100mm wet concrete bed (5 parts sharp sand : 1 part cement). Ask your local dealer for details.