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Welcome to Prescot Landscapes’ Ultimate Guide to Professional Indian Stone Flagging Installation.
Indian stone paving is a popular choice for homeowners, designers, and landscapers. It offers a luxurious and professional finish to any driveway, patio or path. However, the lack of uniform sizes of slabs can make the installation process seem daunting. Fear not! By following our tips and tricks, you can achieve the perfect Indian Stone Flagging installation.
Planning Your Project
A good plan is essential to a successful paving project. Your project will need to have adequate fall and drainage if you want it to be safe and durable. Before starting any construction, check with your local utilities company to ensure that you do not accidentally strike or obtrude any cables or pipes.
Outline the project area and excavate the installation area. Projects that will be exposed to only foot traffic generally require 100-150mm of crushed stone Type 1 MOT, while driveways or projects in very wet soil may need as much as 200mm of base. Be sure to excavate 150 to 200mm beyond the boundaries of the project to give you ample space to install your edge restraints.
Laying Indian Stone Paving
Before you start digging, lay out your slabs directly on the ground where you'd like them to be. Begin from your home and work your way outwards if you're laying a patio. Lay out your slabs right to the edge of where you'd like the paving to end, and go beyond this so that you can draw out the final edge of the patio onto your stones, and know exactly where to cut them.
If you're going for a straight edge, use a chalk line to help guide you to a perfectly measured straight edge guide you can follow while you cut your stones and prepare your groundwork. If you're hoping for a curved edge, fill your garden hose with water, and use this to create the curve you're looking for.
Once you've laid out your stones, take a photograph of them and number them with chalk in the order you want them to be laid. Then, take your photograph and draw out the numbered paving slates, including the number of each, on a piece of paper. You can then remove the slabs, and later refer to your drawn guide to see exactly where each slab should go.
Making the Perfect Curved Edge
Curved edges, whether featuring in a patio, path or driveway, can look incredible when they're done well. To create a perfect circle curve, tie building line to a wooden stake, and use this as a guide to create the perfect circle. Simply place the stake in the centre of the circle and draw a line using the taut line and chalk.
Laying Indian Stone Paving at an Angle
When you're laying your paving, you'll want to make sure it drains well and doesn't draw water towards your home. The best way to do this is to build your project with a slight slant so that rain runs off and doesn't hang around to cause damage. Usually adding just a couple of inches to the edge you want the water to run from will help.
You should add about ½ inch drop every 4 feet, and this should be done when you're preparing the ground underneath. The simple way to do this is to add 2 inches of your hardcore, then add the top amount of hardcore in after at the highest point, then work your way down. Be patient when laying your foundations; a good slope should help you achieve the flat, professional finish you're looking for. Rushing foundations and not compacting well enough can cause slabs to move and misalign, which is hard to fix.
Edging Your Indian Stone Paving with Bricks
Indian Stone Paving looks great with a brick edge, and it's very simple to install. Simply dig around the edge of your paving to a depth that allows your brick to match the level of your paving stones while leaving a little extra depth for the addition of levelling sand underneath.
If you're unsure what will look best, you can always order the bricks needed to lay out lengthways and lay them out on the area first, before permanently installing them. If you think the edge is too harsh, we'd recommend laying the bricks along widthways for a sleeker finish.
Pointing Your Indian Stone Paving
Pointing is one of the last and most important stages of getting your patio looking right, and finished properly. There are a few options with pointing/jointing, here we will look at traditional methods of sand and cement, as well as brush-in ready-made jointing products.
Sand and cement pointing is undertaken after the laying paving stone and given time to dry (normally 24-48 hours) and must be done in dry, frost-free conditions of 2 degrees and rising as a minimum, to allow the pointing mortar adequate time to dry and harden. The first stage is to make sure all gaps to be pointed are dry and clean, and then the mortar can be mixed. An average ratio of sand to cement would be 5 parts sand to 1 part cement, you can go stronger than this however weaker is not advisable. Mix the sand and cement together adding a small amount of water to the correct consistency. This should be able to ball up in your hand without crumbling and not to wet, now you can start pointing your patio.
Another method is to use an air-curing pointing compound such as Marshalls 365 Weather Point Jointing Compound. This is very easy to install and will last just as long as traditional pointing. The application is much faster than the conventional pointing method and has become the most popular of the pointing options. Before starting, the joints need to be clean. A hose will be needed to soak the paving area as this acts as a lubricant to stop the resin pointing from staining, and it is then a simple case of opening the bags and sweeping the compound in using a hard brush. Once swept, in press into the joint with a trowel or pointing iron, when you are happy all the joints are filled the paving should be allowed to dry. During this time, a soft coco brush should be used to sweep off the excess at a 45-degree angle so as not to pull the jointing compound out of the joints and then leave to cure for a further 48 hours.
Cleaning Indian Stone Paving
A jet washer or pressure washer is an ideal way of cleaning Indian stone. But care must be taken. It is important to use either a flat surface cleaner or a wide fan tip. Some sandstone can be soft, so it is important not to use a pencil jet or use a turbo on a high-pressure setting directly on to the sandstone at close range. However, you can use a pencil/ high setting if you keep the pressure washer held above the paving around 300 mm.
The Benefits of Professional Indian Stone Flagging Installation
By choosing Prescot Landscapes for your Indian Stone Flagging installation, you are ensuring that your project is in good hands. Our team of skilled professionals has years of experience in the landscaping industry, and we are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality services.
We offer bespoke solutions tailored to your specific needs and requirements, ensuring that you get exactly what you want. Our team is passionate about what we do, and we take great pride in our work.
By choosing Prescot Landscapes, you are not only getting a professional installation, but you are also getting a team that is dedicated to customer satisfaction. We understand that your outdoor space is an extension of your home, and we strive to create designs that are not only beautiful but also functional.
Conclusion
Indian Stone Flagging installation can seem daunting, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be a breeze. By following our tips and tricks, you can achieve the perfect Indian Stone Flagging installation.
At Prescot Landscapes, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality services. Our team of skilled professionals has years of experience in the landscaping industry, and we are passionate about what we do.
If you are looking for a professional Indian Stone Flagging installation, look no further than Prescot Landscapes. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and get started on your dream outdoor space.
