Country Earth Coolgardie Cobble Laying Suggestions

1. Level the area to be paved and compact it thoroughly.
2. Cover the area with Crusher Dust [Cracker Dust] to a depth of 75mm. Do not compact at this stage; the crusher dust settles firmly but needs a certain amount of cushion to allow for final lock down compaction.
3. Screed to the desired levels.
4. Lay cobbles butted up to each other. You will notice the 4 segments of each piece vary in shape and size; this is because they are direct reproductions of natural granite cubes. When you lay them it does not matter which way round they face. This will give you a random effect.
5. Ensure that the area is dry and there is no risk of rain for at least 48 hours.
6. Haunch the edges with a mortar made with crusher dust, sand and cement to secure the pavement.
7. Brush a drymix of  Pavelock into all the joints. Compact the cobbles thoroughly with a carpet to settle the grout between the cobbles.
8. Brush the excess grout into the gaps just below the top of the cobbles.
9. Gently but thoroughly wet the area with a fine spray ensuring that the grout isn't dislodged and that it is thoroughly soaked. At the same time gently removing any residue from the Cobble surface. Use a grid pattern up and down and then across to ensure nothing is missed.
10. Re float the haunching where any movement has occurred.
11. Leave to set for 48 hours before using.
12. Pressure cleaning is not recommended. Once fully cured, the area may be maintained by using a blower and occasional hosing. Pavelock is flexible grout so should be left alone and not prodded and poked.
13. For driveway applications it is important that the base is really solid. A sub-base of 100mm of compacted roadbase or crusher dust is recommended. In this case an additional 30mm of crusher dust should be spread over the top for screeding.
14. The surface may be sealed after 48 hrs and before driving on it if required.

NOTE: The cobbles can be laid on a bed of mortar over the subbase as an alternative if desired.

 Country Earth Driveway Flagstones Laying Suggestions  

The base of a driveway needs to have a 100mm of compacted roadbase or crusher dust  to ensure that there is no subsidence. As with the cobbles, spread 30mm of crusher dust on top for screeding.

4 WD vehicles put a lot more pressure on driveways and the regular track along the drive to the garage will subside if the base is not solid.

The Driveway Flags are designed to be laid butted together at the base leaving a distinct joint at the surface to accentuate their shape. They should be laid in a random stretcherbond across the drive for strength. There is an approximate ratio of 2:1 450x300 :300x300 sizes.

All paving should be haunched around the edges with concrete as per the cobbles.

After laying, spread Pavelock or a 5:1 Brickies Sand : Brickies Grey Cement [this is 50% Cement & 50% lime] as above evenly over the paved area as per normal paving. Compact the area with a carpet under the compactor to shake the grout securely into the joints and to lock the Flagstones down. Check for any breakages and replace. Then sweep the grout into the joints with the object of  finishing it about 15mm below the top of the paver. This is to accentuate the shape of the Flagstones.  Gently hose the grout in with a fine spray ensuring any residue is washed off the surface of the pavers. Leave for 48 hours before driving on it.

Sealing may be applied after 48 hrs if required.

Country Earth Village Flagstones Laying Suggestions

GENERAL.

Preparation for laying Village Flagstones is similar to other paving. The most important aspect is to ensure a firm stable base. This is best achieved by leveling the area to be paved, compacting it, placing 60mm of crusher dust [sometimes referred to as cracker dust, a blue metal bi-product] over the base surface. Make sure the crusher dust is moist throughout, but not wet.  [do not compact the crusher dust at this stage] and then screed for the finished level. Each pallet contains 14m2 of Village Flagstones. When calculating the number of m2 required, always allow 3-5% for cutting and breakage.

1. Each pallet has a selection of each of the four sizes. 450x450mm, 600x300mm, 450x300mm and 300x300mm.
2. There will be a variation of shades in each batch to create an interesting effect.
3. When laying Village Flagstones select pieces from 2 or 3 packs at a time to give a balanced result.
4. Monitor the numbers of each size as you are laying to ensure that you do not end up with an excess of one size left over. If you have an irregular shaped area or you find you have an odd sized hole, cut the flagstones to fit. With a bit of effort you should be able to avoid holes in the middle of your paving. Try and place the cut side against the wall.
5. Village Flagstones should be laid at random to create an interesting effect. There are no rules except to avoid any continuous joint lines for more than a metre or so if possible. Adjust the Flagstones with a long handled screwdriver in the joints for alignment every so often. The joints should be at least 10mm wide to achieve a solid grout.
6. The edge of your paving should have the rough side facing outwards.
7. For swimming pools we suggest you use the 300mm wide pieces at random along the pool edge instead of a bullnose [see website]. This provides continuity right to the pool. Make sure the rough edge is facing the pool. There are 3 smooth sides and one rough. The joints should be wet-grouted with a 3:1 sand cement mix.
8. The edge pieces can be cut in the normal way to accommodate corners of the pool and laid on mortar for a concrete pool or Fulaprene 303 or similar adhesive for fibreglass. Ensure that the sand around the lip of the pool is well compacted to minimise future subsidence.
9. When the area is laid,  brush a drymix of brickies sand/brickie's grey or  brickies light cement grouting [around 5:1 works well in most applications] into the joints ensuring the grout is 5mm below the surface of the flagstone and as much residue is removed from the paving as possible. Another alternative is pavelock.
10. Compact the paving with a carpet under the compactor following the paving direction where possible [i.e not diagonally across the flagstones.] Then check for any broken pieces and realign any pieces that have moved out of alignment. Brush any grout residue into the joints leaving the surface of the flagstones clean. It is vital that the surface of the crusher dust is not rock hard when compacting after laying or breakages may occur.
11. Then gently but thoroughly hose in with a fine spray as if you were spray painting. First one way and then at right angles to ensure no area is missed.  Avoid blasting the grouting out of the joints. The paving must be perfectly dry before grouting. Ensure 48 hrs drying time.. Remember stability of the flagstones is essential. They can be laid on a mortar bed on a crusherdust or concrete base for the very best result. After leaving the grout undisturbed for 48 hrs, there will be some loose sand on the surface. This can be gently hosed from the joints and off the paving. If pressure cleaning is required at any time, it should be done with care to avoid damaging the grout.
12. Sealing is not essential as the Flagstones already have a waterproofing agent incorporated in the manufacturing process.  However for swimming pool areas all paving whatever type should be sealed to protect against the ingress of salt and chemicals.