Pathway

PATHWAY

The tried and trusted method for laying flagstones is to place the flagstones on five dabs of mortar, one in the center of the flagstone and one at each corner. Wetting the underside of the flagstone first makes it easier to move as you push it into place using a very large rubber mallet and for fine adjustment, the back of a spade.

Do not leave the sand base for your pathway exposed overnight as it will be disturbed by birds and cats if not by unaware people. Cover any exposed sand with plastic sheets and keep the sheets in place with something weighty. Better still, avoid the problem completely by not laying too large a base for you to be able to cover in one day

Old tarmac pathways can be relivened by applying a coat of bitumen and rolling small chippings into the wet surface. Left to harden for around five to seven days, the excess can be swept up and the path will look good for a while longer.

Lean unused flagstones and slabs upright on their ends against a wall, with blocks of wood underneath their lower edge to keep the ends off the ground. This reduces the chances of accidents, cracking of the slabs and keeps all the edges as clean as possible prior to laying.

If laying a brick edging to a path, lay the edging first and always use paving bricks. Normal bricks will break in frost when they are laid in the ground. If a curved or circular edge is required, use a cane and lengths of string to measure out the correct radius for the curve.