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OK, so I'll try to give a quick summary. Neither is as easy to lay as slabs, which are generally laid on studs of mortar.
Blocks are laid on a 2" bed of carefully screeded sand, then compressed with a wacka plate, which is used again to rattle in kiln dried sand to bond them together. It's important to get the base even or the whole lot will be bumpy. The outer ring of blocks has to be set in mortar or everything will spread out. You also have to allow for a few mm of compression for the sand or the centre will whack down lower than the perimeter and hold water.
Sandstone should be hard wearing if laid correctly, on a continuous bed of 1"/25mm of mortar. The varying thicknesses of the sandstone makes an even surface difficult to achieve. Then all the joints must be pointed.
Either way, I would recommend a 4" depth of concrete beneath or the whole lot will move.
Enjoy!
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ColinTheBald
@Polygon
Had a big rethink on the garden design: circular patio rather than the massive deck previously. Should break up the square lines and leave more space for plants. Adults area and kids area, more or less, in the form of a padded plastic grass area over the existing patio.
Anyone have any strong thoughts as to Sandstone vs block paving? I'd assumed blocks would be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case from browsing the Marshalls site. I guess maybe blocks are more suited to heavy traffic areas like driveways? Thinking one of their circular patio kits like this:
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