preparation

planning suggestions

•  Draw the area to be paved using graph paper. A scale of 1:50 will allow direct use of the Stonemarket layout drawings. 

•  Use dimensions that minimise cuts to paving.   

•  Paving surface must be at least 150mm below the damp course in any adjacent wall. 

•  Provide a gradient of 1:40 or steeper, towards adequate drainage.  

paving installation 

•  This is heavy work, requiring specific skills, tools and experience. 

•  Before starting, refer to suitable professional advice, publications or websites.  

•  The following advice assumes you have acquired a basic knowledge of what is required, including health and safety precautions. 

foundations 

•  These depend on ground conditions and expected use.  

•  For light pedestrian use on solid, even ground, 40mm compacted sharp sand may be adequate.  

•  For less stable or wet ground, provide 100mm well compacted hardcore beneath the sand. 

•  For domestic driveways, increase the hardcore depth to 150mm.  

groundworks 

•  Mark out the area and dig out to the required total depth.  

•  Tap in wooden pegs to show the levels for the finished surface, including the required gradients.  

•  Infill the appropriate foundations and remove the pegs before laying the paving.  

•  For Rio, Ryton and Stretton Paving and all Paviors, follow Pavior Laying Guide.  

•  For all other paving (including Rio, Ryton and Stretton if preferred), follow Paving Flag Laying Guide.   

pavior laying guide  

edge restraint 

•  Paviors must be surrounded by a firm edge restraint to stop the blocks and sand layer from creeping.  

•  Kerbs are usually best, but walls, decorative edgings or the paviors themselves can also be used as restraints. 

•  Lay the restraint on a concrete bed, haunching kerbs or edgings in concrete and allow to cure and strengthen before any vibration.  

screeding 

•  Screed out a layer of coarse concreting sand to a depth of 65mm on the excavated area and within the edging.  

•  Compact the sand with a plate vibrator.   

•  Add more sand and screed off to give a firmly compacted thickness of 50mm. (One tonne of sand covers about 8m2.)  

laying 

•  Start from a corner or long edge and proceed along one laying face. Place individual blocks vertically onto the sand bed according to the pattern.  

•  It is important to mix blocks from several packs to achieve a good blend of shades.  

•  Use stringlines and adjust the width of the joints to within 2-5mm to ensure the lines in the pattern remain straight.  

cutting 

•  To fill gaps along edges, cut the blocks using a hammer and bolster chisel.  

•  For a lot of cutting, use a mechanical block splitter or power cutter with an appropriate blade.  

•  Avoid cutting and laying blocks less than a quarter of their original size.   

vibrating 

•  Using a stiff broom, brush bedding course sand over the paviors to partially fill the joints and ensure stability during initial vibration.  

•  After ensuring the surface is clean, vibrate the paving to settle the sand in the joints.

•  Top up the joints with pavior jointing sand. Sweep the surface and then pass the vibrator over the whole area several times to level the paviors.

•  Brush more pavior sand over the area to ensure all joints are topped up and make one more pass with the vibrator plate. The paving is then ready for immediate use. 

•  RENAISSANCE, PENNON and DRIVESTONE. It is recommended a rubber mat is used when vibrating to protect undulating surfaces.

specific advice 

•  RIO, RYTON and STRETTON paving is not suitable for vehicles. Do not use a vibrator on top of the paving. Level off with a paver's maul.

•  RENAISSANCE pavers. Wider top joints need special consideration for permanent filling.

general information 

dimensions 

All dimensions given are nominal and subject to manufacturing tolerances. The quoted sizes and coverage of our paving ranges are for the overall areas including appropriate joints, making it easier for you to plan a project and order the right quantities. For precise dimensions,  measure several product samples at a stockist.  We are continually making innovations and improving products so we reserve the right to vary designs and specifications without notice.  

colours  

Variations in colour shade occur in all Stonemarket products. While the colours shown on this website are as accurate as reprographic processes allow, it is essential that you see actual materials at your local stockist before choosing. This is particularly important with natural stone products where considerable variation occurs.  Our reconstituted stone products contain natural aggregates so we cannot guarantee that products made at different times will have identical shades. When using several packs, mix products from each pack to achieve a blended overall appearance.     

weathering 

Weathering and site conditions can cause variations in shade to appear on individual units. These will not affect performance in any way and will diminish over time. Both natural and reconstituted stone products are affected by sunlight and rainfall. Natural stone may develop brown markings as its iron content oxidises.  Stonemarket cannot accept responsibility for efflorescence which may occur as a deposit and/or apparent colour fading in the form of patches or drip staining.  

terms and conditions 

In the unlikely event of products reaching you in less than satisfactory condition, please notify the retailer immediately.  Please note that if you lay a product with a defect apparent prior to laying, then we may not accept responsibility for costs incurred.  While every effort has been made to give sound advice, Stonemarket cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or injury sustained in following it. We cannot accept any liability if products are used for purposes other than those for which they were intended, or if damage is due to not following our advice.

maintenance 

•  Keep pavior joints well filled with Pavior Jointing Sand.   

•  Pressure washers and chemical cleaners are not recommended, particularly for reconstituted stone and natural limestone.  

•  To clean, wet thoroughly with lukewarm soapy water and use a stiff hard broom.