My company does a lot of brick pavers. I recently recieved a call from a customer who wants a flagstone patio layed in mortar. I have done similar floors indoors with slate which held up fine. I live in northern michigan and I am worried that the mortar would crack and look poorly in a few years due to freeze thaw. Has anyone had any experience with this? Is it better to lay the flagstone in a sand bed? Has anyone layed flagstone in a sand bed and used polymeric sand for a ‘grout’?
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
John
Replies
JOhn,
The Landscape Architects we work with ALWAYS set pavers and stone on a sand bed spread on top of a conc slab, using drainage weeps cast into the conc. There is no mortar to break down with freeze/thaw, no funky profile from ground settling, no water allowed to freeze. It always works and looks great. For those that like the mortared look, try narrow joints using dark grey sand.
Andrew
a few years due to freeze thaw..
Did one like that several years ago.. Set in mortar.. Chicago area here.. Bed seemed to hold up OK.. But the flagstone flakedsplit along it's horizontal length.. Guess it is what limestone does? Not sure what what to call it.. It split along the layers of stone that made up the slab.
EDIT.. NOT a pro here..
Edited 5/9/2005 12:01 pm ET by Will George