How hard is it?

Can I ask for more help please?

I'm now ready to order materials and I'd like to order everything I'm going to need in one go, so that I have only one delivery charge.

I've been told that limestone is better than sand for laying patio slabs, so I'll be ordering that anyway but I'm wondering if limestone can be used as the combined aggregate (or ballast) for the foundations of the walls?

Also......can anyone give me a rule of thumb as to how to estimate the quantity of dry mortar mix needed to fill the joints between paving slabs?

Also....(sorry to keep on).... how to calculate how many wall ties I need for the double thickness walls?

I'll post another photo as soon I can, but the project is really going well thanks to all the help I've had here.

 

Linlin you could use M O T Ballastit would suit both purposes, mortar mix I use is 3:1 sharp sand x cement, wall tie info try here
http://www.ancon.co.uk/products4.asp?ID=23

 

Thanks Walnut - I'll be phoning around for quotes today.

 

Update on my quotes and more help requested please.
I asked for limestone to bed the patio slabs and have been told to use crushed concrete as it's half the price. Also told that crushed concrete will do the job of ballast for the concrete needed for foundations.

Sand - I thought I should order soft sand (this is also known as builders sand?) for mortar to lay bricks, but for mortar to dollop under patio slabs I asked for sharp sand and have been told to use builders sand for that too; then I asked for silver sand for the patio joint filling but no one I've spoken to has heard of silver sand and I've been told to use builders sand for that as well.

So having asked for three varieties of sand, my potential suppliers recommend only one sort - is it because they only have one kind available?

I'd really appreciate an answer to these questions asap as I'll need to order today.

 

Mot Ballast is crushed concrete, sharp sand is ideal for mortar, I'm sure you will get loads of different ideas it's up to you to decide at the end of the day I have used what I have described and have had no problems

 

Thanks for your replies. I've now ordered the materials and hope to get on with the work next week. Am hoping you'll be available to answer more queries as they arise as some of this work is totally new to me.

 

If the old bricks are quite soft then I would use lime mortar. It is more expensive than cement. Lime mortar is meant to be sacrificial and so will require more maintenance. Re pointing about every 20 years. The benefits are it's easy to use, it does not set too quickly ( you can remix mortar left over from the previous days work) and its flexible so you dont need expantion joints in the walls, and it looks much nicer than cement based mortars. Use a lime rated at nhl 3.5 this is a good stong lime. Dont use the standard hydrated lime stocked in builders merchants, its really only good as a plasticiser. The mix is generally 3 sand 1 lime. The sand should be well graded, I normally use 1 part sharp sand and 2 parts plastering sand. Soft sand is by name soft and tends not to give a strong enough mortar when used with lime.

 

A quick update and a request for more help please.

Foundations for the walls have been laid and bricklaying starts first thing Monday (I hope).
I could do with some ideas on how to build walls with an angle of about 60 degrees.

I'll try and describe in greater detail with the following photo:


The back and sides of the old pond need single brick walls, but from the outer corners to the existing patio, they'll need double brick walls and that's where the angle comes in.

Hope someone here can hold my hand (again)!

 

Project complete apart from Patio grouting




Thanks for all help provided

 

Well done Linlin great job looks fantastic.

 

Now I think that deserves a big and a large FANTASTIC!
MEF750

 

what a makeover its looking great

 

Brilliant job well done Linlin Lovely big garden you have there