Now some people call it a patio, and some call it a terrace (pronounced the French way of tear-as (the tear as in to rip not to cry) ) and for some reason we have always referred to it as the terrace even though at first I thought it sounded a bit poncy for some reason, however I have become used to it so "terrace" it is and here is the story of the laying of the curved part.
MrsB had manufactured all the slabs (see a few posts ago) so once we had sorted out the "sub sleeper drain scenario" it was time to get on with laying the first part.
Never having laid anything like this before I just applied some common sense to the job and worked out out the levels with a bit of a slope running the water down towards the drain. After that gravity should sort it out
We then set up the straight edge guide rails so we could lay a slab then move the straight edge on to check if it was near enough in the right place.
We used a mix of 6 sand to one cement and put it in dry after soaking the ground underneath.
No doubt a pro could have made the scalpings higher and a more level finish, or might even use a completely different process, but this is how I have seen workmen laying pavement cobbles and pavement slabs before so figured it would work for this.
We had to remember that this is the back terrace of our rustic cottage dwelling, not the polished marble entrance foyer to the Ritz, that said we didn't want to bodge it .
(Ha ha
does that sound like me making excuses for why it might be a bit uneven in places?? Ah well we love it. 
MrsB who had not only made the slabs by hand also selected the slabs shape and colour to be laid and I gently coaxed them into place with some grunts and a rubber mallet .
At the end of the day we went over it with a couple of full watering cans and left nature to do the rest.
Whata cracking pair of working boots
Here is the first bit taken from above and we were already pleased with the result and our decision to have ago at making them ourselves
You can start to see the way it is going to pan out with the variety of slab colour and design.
It is probably not everyone's cup of tea because some people are bit more” straight lines and right angles” and then again some of us are not, but then again not everyone has to come and drink tea on it.
Here is how it runs down to level with the top of the step and also level with the stones that disappear into garden level.
Here is a bit more after a soaking
And when its dry
New slabs in manufacture
And here is the final pieces just laid in by MrsB this week up to the outdoor fire/oven/bbq that is still under construction. (0The stones are where you would stand to cook.)
We are well chuffed with the result of the home made slabs.
We have been now been recommended a product called Lanko241 which we will put on the slabs to seal them and MrsB has also slightly altered her production method, making more use of an old orbital vibrating sander after the initial pour to the moulds in order to release more trapped air bubbles and also using a water proofing compound in the mix.
The production for the main terrace slabs is already underway and will continue through the winter when its warm enough so that we can get it laid in spring summer next year.
All that’s left to do for the curved part is to bed in the drain cover and the jobs a good’un.
Next installment is the windows
MrsB had manufactured all the slabs (see a few posts ago) so once we had sorted out the "sub sleeper drain scenario" it was time to get on with laying the first part.
Never having laid anything like this before I just applied some common sense to the job and worked out out the levels with a bit of a slope running the water down towards the drain. After that gravity should sort it out
We then set up the straight edge guide rails so we could lay a slab then move the straight edge on to check if it was near enough in the right place.
We used a mix of 6 sand to one cement and put it in dry after soaking the ground underneath.
No doubt a pro could have made the scalpings higher and a more level finish, or might even use a completely different process, but this is how I have seen workmen laying pavement cobbles and pavement slabs before so figured it would work for this.
We had to remember that this is the back terrace of our rustic cottage dwelling, not the polished marble entrance foyer to the Ritz, that said we didn't want to bodge it .
(Ha ha
does that sound like me making excuses for why it might be a bit uneven in places?? Ah well we love it. 
MrsB who had not only made the slabs by hand also selected the slabs shape and colour to be laid and I gently coaxed them into place with some grunts and a rubber mallet .
At the end of the day we went over it with a couple of full watering cans and left nature to do the rest.
Whata cracking pair of working boots
Here is the first bit taken from above and we were already pleased with the result and our decision to have ago at making them ourselves
You can start to see the way it is going to pan out with the variety of slab colour and design.
It is probably not everyone's cup of tea because some people are bit more” straight lines and right angles” and then again some of us are not, but then again not everyone has to come and drink tea on it.
Here is how it runs down to level with the top of the step and also level with the stones that disappear into garden level.
Here is a bit more after a soaking
And when its dry
New slabs in manufacture
And here is the final pieces just laid in by MrsB this week up to the outdoor fire/oven/bbq that is still under construction. (0The stones are where you would stand to cook.)
We are well chuffed with the result of the home made slabs.
We have been now been recommended a product called Lanko241 which we will put on the slabs to seal them and MrsB has also slightly altered her production method, making more use of an old orbital vibrating sander after the initial pour to the moulds in order to release more trapped air bubbles and also using a water proofing compound in the mix.
The production for the main terrace slabs is already underway and will continue through the winter when its warm enough so that we can get it laid in spring summer next year.
All that’s left to do for the curved part is to bed in the drain cover and the jobs a good’un.
Next installment is the windows
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