Laying Limestone Pitchers

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Stoneworld · Accepted Answer

How To Lay Limestone Pitchers

Laying limestone pitchers for your paving projects requires meticulous attention to detail and adherence to certain procedures to ensure a durable and aesthetically pleasing outcome. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to correctly lay these stones.

1. Prepare the Sub-Base

Construction: Begin by constructing your sub-base in layers. Each layer should be no thicker than 75mm and must be fully compacted before adding the next. The total thickness of the sub-base depends on the specific site conditions.

Edge Restraint: To keep the bedding course and pitchers in place, install a solid edge restraint around the perimeter. If there’s no wall, you can lay pitchers on a semi-dry mix composed of roughly four to five parts sharp sand to one part cement, with a 45-degree haunch of mix to secure the outside edge.

2. Bedding/Laying Course

Material: Use a sharp sand bedding layer (moist grit sand), not building sand. This layer should be compacted and screeded to level the surface. The sand should hold its shape when squeezed without water escaping.

Protection: If you anticipate overnight work, cover the sand to prevent it from getting wet.

3. Laying the Pitchers

Pattern Choice: Decide on the laying pattern beforehand. Begin at the bottom if you’re working on a slope, and consider using intermediate restraints similar to the edge restraint on particularly steep gradients.

Placement: Start with whole pavers, especially in patterns like Herringbone where you start from the centre and work outwards. Maintain joint widths between 2mm and 5mm, and ensure there is no more than a 2mm deviation in level during laying.

4. Compaction

Filling Joints: Sweep dry, fine jointing sand into the joints, then compact further with a vibrating plate compactor equipped with a rubber sole plate to avoid damaging the pitchers.

Damage Repair: If a pitcher gets damaged during compaction, replace it immediately, and refill the joints with jointing sand.

5. Finishing Touches

Final Sand Layer: After compacting, brush a layer of dry crushed sand (2-4mm grade) across the area, followed by a finer grade of sand (0-2mm) to fill the joints completely.

Enjoy the View: Once all the joints are filled and the area is clean, step back and admire the beauty of your work!

6. Maintenance

Cleaning: Using a product like Rob Parkers Best for cleaning limestone is a good choice because it's designed to be gentle on stone surfaces. When it comes to maintaining limestone pitchers, or any limestone surfaces, there are some specific care guidelines you should follow to ensure the longevity and beauty of the stone.

Following these steps will help ensure that your limestone pitchers are laid correctly, providing a stable and attractive paving solution for years to come. Remember, individual conditions may vary, so adjust the guidelines as necessary for your specific project.

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