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PATIO PAVING
NATURAL STONE
Patio Patterns |
Uses and Types
TerminologyAnother example of regional terminology. In NW
England, they are referred to as 'Flags', in other parts they are known
as 'Slabs'. Both terms refer to exactly the same item, that is,
sections of pre-cast concrete, normally rectangular in plan but also
available in other geometric shapes. The term 'flag' will be used in
the remainder of this page, which deals with those flags designed to be
used for lightweight applications, such as patios, garden paths and the
like. The thicker, heavier, stronger BS flags used for public areas and footpaths are dealt with on a separate page, as are stone flags and the various methods of laying.
Types of Flags/Slabs
As will be explained below, patio flags can be categorised into three
main groups; Riven, Textured or Decorative. The principles involved in
laying each type are basically the same, although the exact nature of
the flag will determine how they may be jointed, mortar pointing, polymeric jointing or dry sand jointing being the most popular methods.
Widely used for paths and patios, these flags are designed to be
'different', but attractive, and when chosen correctly, will enhance
any type or age of property. Many are not suitable for vehicular
traffic although some of the better quality products will be
satisfactory when laid on a full concrete bed.
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Riven-effect Paving
Riven-effect is the name given to those patio flags manufactured from
cast concrete that mimic the appearance of the traditional old stone
flags. There is a vast range available, and an equally massive range of
quality to suit, from cheap'n'cheerful 99p budget flags sold by the DIY
chains, to top quality, highly accurate copies that can easily pass as
genuine stone to the untrained eye. The better quality ranges come in a
wide selection of plan sizes to enable traditional random layouts to be
laid - refer to Random Layouts page for more information.
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While the budget flags, such as these shown opposite, have their uses,
they really aren't very authentic. They are often knocked out by the
DIY sheds with amazing claims that "you too can build this stunning
patio for under £100". If you're looking for realism, you're going to
have to pay a lot more! |
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Generally speaking, you get what you pay for with all of these riven
flags. The cheap'n'cheerful usually have a low cement content, are
worryingly thin, down to 20mm in some examples, and with poor dyes that
fade in UV light. They also tend to come in just one size, 450x450mm.
The quality products from the big manufacturers tend to have better
dyes, a higher cement content, and are generally that bit thicker. To
emphasise the quality, they usually come in a wider range of sizes,
often based on a 150mm module, so pattern formulation is fairly
straightforward. |
Many riven flags come in a range of modular sizes
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Rough riven surface on mid-price patio flag
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Give
some thought to the surface of these flags. While some have a
reasonably smooth finish, others are exceptionally 'bumpy', making them
difficult for those unsteady on their feet, young children in pedal
cars and the like, and, in some cases, it can be almost impossible to
stop the patio table from rocking.
Obviously, the aesthetics will often drive the choice of flagstone,
and while heavily textured riven effect paving might seem to be the
ideal choice for a country cottage, the amenity or useability of the
flags should be considered. Back in Ye Olden Dayes the property owners
didn't choose rough textured flagstones because they looked pretty:
they were chosen because there was nothing else! |
450mm flags in chequerboard pattern
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Circle feature with corner infills
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Real or copy?
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Most riven flags require mortar joints; dry sand joints
will not hold them in place, as the uneven edges of these units leads
to variable joint widths, nearly always in excess of 10mm. |
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Some of the cheaper units have 'square' edges (arisses) that are smooth
and obviously manufactured, whereas the more expensive types tend to
have 'fettled' edges, that is, the edges have the rough riven
appearance of the surface. |
Fettled edges
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Square edges
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If you are planning to use this type of flag in a situation where the edge(s) may be exposed, such as the treads for steps, then make sure you are happy with the appearance of the edge before buying.
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Textured Paving
Textured flags are those with a surface that has been altered in some
way. These include a coarse textured finish, the smooth ground or
polished types, and the exposed aggregate ranges. Most of these types
of flags are manufactured by wet-press methods, rather than casting in
a mould as the rivens and decoratives tend to be, and we generally find
them to be somewhat stronger. |
| There is a good range
of shapes, sizes and colours available to suit every application. The
exposed aggregate flags can look stunning when used sympathetically
with the immediate area, and the smooth ground types are our personal
favourite. We find that the coarse textured flags very rapidly become a
haven for mosses and lichens in untrafficked, shady spots although they
sometimes can be successfully cleaned with a power washer, if the jointing is sound and the paving is competent and intact. |
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| We find that dry sand/cement jointing
usually has limited success with these types of flags if they are laid
close-jointed with no mortar. Although it minimises the risk of
staining, some clients prefer the more traditional mortar joints. |
Coarse textured
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Smooth Polished
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Exposed aggregate
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Decorative Paving
Decoratives includes all the other flags that don't fit into one of the
above categories. There are flags mimicking cobbles, setts, old bricks
and even wooden decking and railway sleepers, as well as flags making a
pretty poor attempt to look like block paving, and some really
atrocious stuff with leaves or cheesy wildlife images stamped into the
surface, generally sold to the gullible via garden centres. |
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is a vast range available, although some products are specific to local
manufacturers, and the larger Builder's Merchants tend only to stock
the products of the big, national manufacturers. Once again, it seems
fair to say that you generally get what you pay for. Some will be soft
'fence post' concrete, while others are quality products. At the end of
the day, it's a matter of personal taste. It is you that has to live
with the chosen flag, not the contractor. |
Sizes and Coverage
There is a massive range of sizes available. The commonest size for
patio flags is 450x450x35mm, although smaller and larger examples are
available, enabling complex or random-looking patterns to be created.
There are also radial units, used to form circles and arcs, along with
hexagons, trapezoids and umpteen other geometric shapes.
Some of the patio flags on the market are available in thicker
sizes, 50 and 65/70mm thick units, which enables a chosen paving look
to be extended beyond the garden/patio to driveway use. The typical
450x450x35mm flag, at around 20Kg, is more suited to handling by the
home handyman, than the commonly available 50mm thick flags. |
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Patterns and Designs
There are many techniques to make these flags look even more glamorous.
They can be combined with paving bricks to create borders or panels of
contrast (see drawings) and they are available in a variety of colours,
of which we find the reds and buffs to be the most useful, other
colours tending to look wishy-washy after a few seasons out in the
British or Irish climate.
The modular size of the flags and blocks allows almost infinite
design possibilities, a few of which are shown below. Play around with
graph paper or a CAD system to create a design that suits your
application, or help yourself to one of our designs below, and tailor
it to your needs. |
| 450x450mm
flags laid in a chequerboard pattern with, on the left a 200mm wide
block paver edging, and on the right, a 100mm wide block paver edging. |
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450x450mm
flags laid in stretcher bond pattern with, on the left, a olde-worlde
block paver edging, and on the right, a 160mm wide edging formed from 2
rows of 80x80mm clay cobbles. |
| 450x450mm flags laid in a 3.0x3.0m chequerboard pattern with a 2.4m diameter circular feature. |
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A random layout created from 5 different sizes of flags. This pattern looks best when used with riven-type paving.
Click here for other random patterns suitable for riven paving |
| Sweeps and curves created using radial sections, in a background panel of 400mm hexagons with floral motif |
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Diamond pattern created using 450x450mm flags with 100mm wide brick edging between each flag. |
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Pros and Cons
Vast range of prices, from very cheap to quite expensive. Large D-I-Y
chains often sell 450x450mm flags for 99p including VAT, while the very
best riven copies can cost £4-£6 for that size of flag.
Very easy to obtain as they are carried by most Builders Merchants.
Most manufacturers publish free brochures detailing the range they
supply. Ask your local builders merchant for a copy, or check out the Links
page for details on the larger manufacturers and how to contact them.
If you see a decorative flag at a garden centre, try to find the name
of the flag and its manufacturer, and get a builders merchant to quote
you a price - they are often up to 20% cheaper than garden centres!
Must be properly drained to gullies or other suitable drainage points.
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Construction Diagrams
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