I Built The Patio Of My Dreams In Just 24 Hours!

[@orpaztron]

Hi, I watched some of your videos out of nostalgia. I was a flooring contractor for luxury homes until 2000. With one helper, I would finish between 30 and 40 square meters in a day, including filling the grooves and cleaning, that includes 30 mm thick and heavy marble tiles 140-120 cm in length and width. Our working methods are different and I will share some tips that may help you. It will be tips in bulk and long :) As a substrate I would use moist sand mixed with cement in 1-6/ 1-5 ratio. This gives an airiness that makes it easier to knock the tile down and a substrate stronger. I didn't get up from the floor for most of the process. The assistant brings the tile and places it carefully vertically on the edge of the previous tile. My job is to prepare the mortar, put it the tile down with him and level it. The assistant is responsible for the cement (hand mixed), applying the primer with a brush dipped in flooring adhesive and serving the "ready" tile. After finishing the leveling, leave a small space between the tiles and move with a spacer between the grooves to clean cement. Then use a damp sponge to clean off any residue, and only then stick the spacers in and clamp sideways the tile if any space left. A flexible thin thread helps maintain a straight line. Thick fiber construction line absorbs moisture and may drop more than 1 cm for every 5-10 meter. Work with line only for the purpose of keeping the first line of the tiles. The rest of the work with use an aluminum bar 2.5-1.8 m long and level above it to check yourself. As the day progressed between all 4 glued tiles, a tile was placed to step on and easy and quick access between the pile of tiles and my location for the assistant. The assistant stands on them and removes dirt with a sponge in the little spare time. After drying, the surface and grooves are clean and ready for fill. Usually I would arrive the day after and with the help of a floor mop I would transfer a thin mixture over the grooves and wait half an hour for the height of the filling to decrease. Then, go through again with a squeegee and a damp rag or sponge to remove the rest of the filler. When the floor was still damp I would go over again with a thicker mix. Wait a few minutes for the residue to dry and clean again with a sponge attached to the stick. Marble and stone tiles absorb water, so a very moist surface helps in smoothing the material further. The tiles are always lifted by themselves vertically with two hands to prevent breakage (in the case of stone with grooves) and to avoid unnecessary bending. I always used a much smaller square mason's trowel (size 12) to avoid tendinitis and quick movements. You don't need to apply the glue as a primer on the bottom of the tile when it is large to the edges. The instruction to the helper is to always leave 10-15 cm clean so that it is comfortable to hold and to prevent dirt in the hands, utensils and the environment. A damp sponge is always at hand. Keep your back and always lift with your knees, never a bent over lift. I've been in the internet worlds for over 20 years now and still miss this job. So much satisfaction..it's hard for people to understand, I know. I wish you professional and financial success that will compensate for the sore body and the dirt :) 🍺🍺🍺

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

richly appreciated for the message about yourself when you used to do it years back and current project will be my last project also I’m already Jack in the job in and hanging up my trowel this is my last patio there’s not enough money in it anyways I’d be better off just laying bricks but that bores me senseless. I’ll be keeping up the content but not me actually doing it I’ll film other sounds like a plan 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jamesdonne2305]

Thanks

[@jamesdonne2305]

For the entertainment as well as the info. Keep it rolling !!

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Thanks James glad you enjoy my videos mate much appreciated for you watching 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

just noticed the donation thanks James I’ll put it towards a drone I’m thinking of getting for my videos much appreciated mate 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jamesdonne2305]

@@tidybrickslandscaping happy days. I Love your content, it has helped me no end with my work so can't thank you enough. I look forward to some Tidy aerial shots 😁👍

[@hitmanzaman556]

Hi Scott excellent job as always, I was wondering can 20mm slate pavers be used for a driveway if laid on a full bed?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Yes, absolutely but you’ll need a concrete base to help distribute weight of the tyres on the tiles. Just like this video here I did 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHycc4WCi6aVh7Msi=vUleiUb43VR0u4GX

[@jimgeelan5949]

Corrr looks like your in a hurry to get away on holiday Scott 🤭👍

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

still on hols and glad for a rest 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@gilesj2215]

I mean it’s so easy to get measurements wrong on steps allowing for over hangs etc ! Credit to show your just like all of us scotty nobody perfect 👍🏻 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼great vid mate !

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

If I pretended to be perfect Giles I would be lying 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jonjones1290]

Loving the tunes choice. Tip top

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Thanks Jon glad you enjoy my music taste 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@toolrestoration]

Not ever using any trade and doing everything myself , if i win the lottery ,and needed one hell of a brilliant patio - I would indeed only ask you , that is about the best compliment I can give .👍👍

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Much appreciated for those kind words Jim give me a ring when you win the lottery 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@HANNO290880]

Rawl plugs as spacers 😂😂😂. Love it. 💚💚

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

What next 😂👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@viankalobosvalenzuela7456]

Bellísimo trabajo felicidades 👊👌🏻💪

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@robbieroche6779]

good job buddy

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Cheers Robbie glad you enjoyed the video mate 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@gilespanton9354]

Top work mate ☺️

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Cheers Giles 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@steveclark8543]

Have a great holiday bud

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Cheers Steve one more day then back home 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@johnbowkett80]

Funny how we all do things in a different way . 👍

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

There’s many ways to skin a cat 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@NATHEisbEtter]

nice video sir, smart job

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Going to be really nice one 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@4doors_m0r3wh0r3s]

Ahh that's where all my yellow wall plugs went!

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Yeh sorry about that I ran out 👌👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@leskavage]

@@tidybrickslandscaping 🤣

[@petespencer5260]

Hey mate. Great vids. What size spacers would you recommend for stone Slabs of various size (repeating pattern)? Thanks

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

natural stone pretty much always 10mm spacers porcelain 5mm and less hope that helps 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@yourmoiveclub]

Is it possible to lay the whole cement layer first? When it is dry then put the tiles with mortar?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

If you went down that route then think more concrete base type installation but otherwise no that wouldn’t be the way the tile and all of the cement bed should be together all wet bonding better 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@michaelthurlow4448]

I prefers it when you goes"Wiggle,wiggle!"

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Oh yeh forgot ok next time 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jaroszaleo6338]

Hi mate, it's great job. What ratio of mortar did you use? Also is a normal cement or something else? Many thanks for replying.

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

4sharp sand 1 cement mix any brand cement I would say 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jaroszaleo6338]

Thank you 😉

[@lmilne4859]

🤟🤟👌🏻

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@krehbein]

Smart…. You level the mud, then when you “scratch” it with the trowel it makes ridges to support the slate, and they settle as needed.

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

That’s exactly the reason Kev sounds like you do the same 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@robertpowell7672]

Hi Scott. Have you stopped using those spacers with the red screwy tops?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Yeh I ran out and there really only good for smaller tiles the bigger ones don’t really move much 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@robertpowell7672]

@@tidybrickslandscaping Well, I've got a bucket load, left over from my DIY job. When you are next around the Norfolk Broads area, you can have em free!

[@gilesj2215]

@@robertpowell7672 its mostly because you actually don’t reeeealy need them that much to be fare ! Great for holding small cuts , if your your mix is a little too wet and the paver needs stabilising and that’s pretty much it ! They don’t level a paver and add a huge amount of time on a job ! so useful yes! but limited it landscape work with big tiles !

[@dinglemcdongle5513]

how many slabs can u lay an hour ?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

All depends 600x600 about 10 maybe 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@dinglemcdongle5513]

Brilliant mate. It's taken me 4 months to do my patio and your videos have been a huge help. Did 8 slabs today, about 1 an hour 450x450 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

@@dinglemcdongle5513 as long as the water is running off in the right direction go for it 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@dinglemcdongle5513]

@@tidybrickslandscaping a 1:60 fall on all slabs towards a central drain. Was a right headache but we got there all thanks to you 👍

[@montdino9775]

Hi what’s the thinnest you’d go with your mortar bed ?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

If it’s on concrete quite thin but you must prime the slab first and use a wetter cement. Otherwise I’d always prefer about 30/40mm 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@KeithWhittingham]

4:10 no wiggle wiggle - I miss nothing

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Eyes like a hawk 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@leskavage]

Hi Scott, please tell me how to keep slates level in mortar bed when using slates of varying thicknesses. I can’t seem to get that straight and I have to go back an reset them. It’s so frustrating.

[@KeithWhittingham]

I had the same problem not with slate though. We sorted the stones by thickness which did the trick

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Like Keith said try to arrange them into what works best for you 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jimgeelan5949]

When you bye your slates jd l make sure you go for a company that will supply them calibrated

[@nathanielcohn8055]

Calibrated slabs only what a nightmare otherwise for the small difference in cost

[@leskavage]

@@tidybrickslandscaping Thank you.

[@johnbowkett80]

Why do you use spacers on the run when you're laying to the line ?

[@NATHEisbEtter]

lol because no man on earth would be able to beat machine manufactured spacers even with a line? thats my view but could be wrong if you use them theres literally not even 1mm that could be out where as with a line would be different

[@NATHEisbEtter]

i also think the line is for the level it helps i personally dont use loads of lines but some people do and i mean if it works why not

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Spacers are just to keep the joint sizes the same really 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@johnbowkett80]

I've never used spacers on flooring .... Must be something to do with 45 years experience maybe?

[@johnbowkett80]

@@NATHEisbEtter you're assuming that tiles are perfect which they are not .... The line is true . Simple .

[@gavinplant6200]

How are you mixing your muck?

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Mixer 4/1 sharp sand little squirt of fairy liquid 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@gavinplant6200]

@@tidybrickslandscaping cheers 👍

[@robbieroche6779]

expensive jointers lol

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Nothing but the best for me 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@paulking9479]

Blah blah blah is the gold ,you got comedy bruv

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

More bla bla bla coming soon 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@andrewthompson6356]

How do you get your mix like that? Last time I laid my slabs in the garden it was either as wet and sloppy as my mrs, or as stiff as me watching p0rnhub :-/

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Lol I always use a squirt of fairy liquid try that first 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jaspermillerlandscaping6174]

Can't beat a bit of the bla bla bla lol,

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

More blah blah blah coming in the next video 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@joshuamatheron1]

If I’m honest I missed the blah blah blah….

[@tidybrickslandscaping]

Next time after my little holiday 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@joshuamatheron1]

@@tidybrickslandscaping sounds fair. Enjoy 🍺