Installing Yourself

Our paving products should be installed in accordance with the standard BS 7533, which is the code of practice for laying pre-cast concrete paving blocks to suit the relevant foot or vehicular traffic conditions.  More information on BS 7533 can be found at www.bsigroup.com.   We would also recommend that you check out www.paving.org.uk, the website of Interpave, the Pre-cast Concrete, Paving and Kerb Association.

• Laying Paving Blocks
• Laying Paving Flags
• Laying Natural Stone
• Jointing Options

Need Help?

technical@kilsaran.ie     

Laying Paving Blocks

Your paved area is normally made up of three layers

1. The appropriate sub-base material e.g. Clause 804 material in accordance with the NRA specification.  This is the first layer of material laid on top of the sub-grade (sub-soil) or capping. The depth of the sub-base required will be determined at design stage and is normally 100mm for light domestic use.  This will be installed in layers and fully compacted with an appropriate plate contractor or roller.
2. The laying course is normally a natural clean sharp gritty sand, laid moist in a 30–50mm layer and screeded off to correct levels.  Alternatively, a clean grit may be used.  Please note: Paving blocks cannot be laid on a cementitious or mortar material.
3. The surface course is the paving blocks themselves.  They are laid directly on the laying course material.  Our Jointing Sand (in 25kg bags) is carefully swept into the joints and an appropriate plate compactor is used to compact the paving blocks fully.  Any joints not full after compaction is complete are topped up by sweeping more sand into them.  Some slight surface scratches may occur during laying, this is normal and they will weather away.  If this is a concern, rubber mats should be used when using the plate compactor. 

Please note:  In order to achieve an even blend of colour, it is essential to work from a minimum of three packs.

Laying Paving Flags

Flag Pavements are not usually suited to any type of vehicle traffic, Flag pavements are usually used for pedestrian and patio areas, for further advice on product application, please contact the Kilsaran Technical Department. The flag pavement is normally made up of three layers:

1. The appropriate sub-base material, e.g. clause 804 material in accordance with the NRA specification. This is the first layer of material laid on top of the sub-grade (sub-soil) or capping. The depth of sub base required will be determined at design stage and normally varies from 100mm to 150mm. This will be installed one or two layers and fully compacted with an appropriate plate compactor or roller.
2. Flag Pavements, unlike flexible block pavements, are normally laid as a ‘rigid’ pavement. A sand/cement bedding mix is used as the laying course.  We recommend the use of our easy-to-use pre-mixed bagged patio bedding mix (in 25kg bags) for domestic patio areas.
3. Alternatively Flag Pavements may be laid as a flexible pavement where a gritty sand laying course is used. This is suitable for light use areas only.  A natural clean sharp gritty sand, laid moist in a 30-50mm layer and screeded off to the correct levels. Alternatively a clean grit may be used.
4. The surface course is the paving flag units which are laid directly on the bedding material, using a line and level to ensure accuracy. The paving flags are carefully tapped into place using a paviours maul. Paving flags do not require vibrating plate compaction, and the vibrating plate may damage the surface.  When paving Flags are laid on sand/ cement bedding mix, the jointing operation may not take place for a few days until the mortar has set.  Some slight surface scratches may occur during laying, this is normal and they will weather away.

Laying Natural Stone Paving

Most types of natural stone pavements are laid as a fixed rigid paving. The pavement will consist of three layers. We would advise that natural stone paving installation requires the advice and knowledge of an experienced installer.

1. The appropriate sub-base, normally a lean mix concrete is used at 100-150mm thick. Pavements which are not to be trafficked by vehicles or patio areas may not require a concrete sub- base, a clause 804 material in accordance with the NRA specification would be adequate.
2. Our pre-mixed Sand & Cement (3:1) bedding (in 25kgs bags) should be screeded and laid in a moist condition 30-50mm thick as the bedding layer.
3. For granites and other impervious natural stone materials, our pre-mixed jointing grout (in 25kgs bags) is mixed to a slurry and poured using a watering can into the joints, the material is carefully squeegeed over the surface to fill all joints and the excess is cleaned off before it sets. This is best carried out by an experienced professional. For sandstones and pervious stone materials, a moist 4:1 mortar pointing is usually used.
   

Jointing Options

Paving Blocks and Paving Flags:

Our Kiln Dried Jointing Sand is suitable for block and flag pavements of joint width up to 2.5mm. This is available in 25kg bags in standard buff brown, silver granite (for use with all Silver Granite finish paving) and red.

For Block and Flag paving with wide joints from 2.5-10mm, Kilsaran Stabilised Jointing Sand is used. This is swept into the joints, the excess is removed and the area gently and carefully wet down with a mist of water. The jointing material will then cure in the joint, becoming semi-hardened and preventing rain and routine cleaning from easily washing out the material.

Natural Stone Paving:

For natural stone paving, our Natural Stone Slurry grout is recommended for all rigidly constructed impervious stone pavements such as granites, and a moist mortar pointing is recommended for pervious stone types such as sandstone.