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PRO Member Comment by Michael Baker on October 27, 2012 at 0:18

Cheers mate, couple of tips are to buy a decent flag either Marshalls or Bradstone are all I use or advise my customers I'm sure there's other suppliers with good stuff but I'm happy with them. Doesn't matter how good you lay them if you buy a cheap flag it can be a right nightmare keeping the joints to between 10-15mm you end up with 20-25mm joints and end up cutting loads down to try and tighten them up... Saving £5m2 on flags can end up costing you more in your time. Try to keep all your joints as "T"'s and avoid "X"'s they will stick out its not the end of the world but lifting a few you've laid to stop these happening will give you peace of mind (it does with me), try to break your joints every 1.8m a bit longer on a larger patio, try not to have small cuts in pieces instead take an extra one out and cut a larger flag down, and try to mitre your corners it will take patience and you'll be scratching your head when they are either larger or smaller than 90degrees, but it will make a difference. Lay your flags on a grit/cement mix I make it quite sticky with "sbr" in with the water and wet the underside of the flag down on a patio I lay on 3" of this mix it will then take a good tap home with your mallet this way the mix touches all of the underside and avoids that hollow sound when it doesnt stick when walking on it the next day, other people have their own ways but this is how I'm used to. Hope this helps and good luck any advice just ask. Michael.

Comment by Darren McSorley on October 26, 2012 at 20:26

Looks like a fantastic bit of work mate. Any advice on how to get to that level of workmanship? I'm going self employed next year for garden maintenance but long term goal is to be able to provide patios ect. Been to college know the basics but would be intrested in finding out how u got to this level of work.