Anyone have any tips about laying a slate patio?
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Answers:
Without any detail of your definition or description of the SLATE, certainly there are various things to consider.
If it's "Field Stone" it's uneven in texture. If it's Machined Slate Tile, the install can be accomplished much as you would with regular tile.
One reason I'm answering this Q is to alert that "slate" is very porous, and as a natural substance is much like "Plywood" in that it's (layered/laminated) naturally, and subject to abuses that may eventually cause it to crack, or flake, chip, or depending on your base,,, become uneven in sinking or rising. If it's Field Stone I strongly advise do not mortar it in place.
In any case you need a base for whatever you have in mind. TILES would best be laid on a slab. Textured/natural field stone laid on leveled, filled, tamped material, such as sand or crushed limerock, then filled around with sand, etc. which will be an ongoing maintenance issue.
Steven Wolf
http://www.diynetwork.com/
This website is very good and will help you a lot.
make sure that your ground is level,if your slate is all one size,use a string line to keep it straight, if you are going to use sand as a filler and or binder,make sure you use plenty,and when wet it down real good,as this well help it pack,if you use concrete,mix it so you have time to work with it before it drys and stay off it for a min of 36 hours,it has to have time to dry and cure,be sure to check to make sure you are staying level
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