We use semi dry for a variety of reasons, as you say if the primer is put on nice and thick then sticking is no issue at all. Semi dry is cleaner, it is easier to achieve a proper full contact bed and is less prone to shrinkage, you also dont have surrounding slabs moving about with semi dry. You can also screed your beds as well making things much quicker.
The load on slabs is a downward force. When a patio is laid u do not pull them up for no reason.. they may pop off in winter if pointing in permeable.. ground workers would lay slabs on dryish mix, landscapers lay on wet. But wet comes up in the joints and when the next 1 goes on the previous 1 may move because of slump while the the next slab is knocked on.. try laying kerbs with wet gear, won't happen.. also wet gear will tend to crack on shrinkage, while drylean won't... as long as u apply bonding agent drylean is quicker to use and a lot less mess....
Still rather lay my flagstone in wet mix, helps me sleep better.. also joint it at the same time in frost freeze areas because it will attach to the base mix under your flagstone. If the joint is laid in at a later date, it could fail years later.
Less water can be a strong longer lasting mix as long as it’s compressed well … you can have to much water as well as not enough.. I use different mixes on different products..paving brickwork and edgers I make all different consistency’s ,, as long as it’s mixed well should set well tho paving with a dry mix will take longer to lay Id say but dry is great for edgers
@@tidybrickslandscaping I honestly think there are too many armchair wannabe brickies around and don't realise that building ain't rocket science , its been going on since we climbed out the trees . Its common sense and very hard graft but I love the game . Take care . Don't drop a slab on your toes and if you do ... Blame GRAVITY.. 👍👍👍👍👍
What’s up cookie 🍪 yeh I might go back on semi dry easier to mix too just more primer and lava it on. Useful video for people to clarify questions I keep getting asked also 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping my go to is poured on bond bridge cement water for sets. and sandstone paving limestone aswell done same on porcelain no problems with sbr mix .it’s easier to mix semi dry couple of taps in ps big fan of yours well done 👏🏴
@@StephenMurrayCookcookie thanks for watching cookie and I’m also a huge fan of yours too let’s put wales on the landscaping map and show em what we can do 👍🏴🏴
I watched you build that retaining wall even though I wasn’t building one Now I’m watching you do this massive job and I’m eyeing up my dead grass and thinking of having a go at this great content boyo
wouldn't use a drier mix unless I was using a 1200 x1200 tile when it would make more sense to screed it, personally I will always use a wet mix as it creates more suction and is overall a better job for laying tiles individually but can use a screed and screed it out using a drier screed mix but laying tiles individually with a dry mix is nonsense it to only makes sense to use it as a screed in my experience 👍
Really enjoy ur content Scott. Always interesting with a lot of humour. I haven’t commented before but this video got me wondering. I always brush primer on with a wet mix and always get a good bond. What do you think the results would be if you brushed the primer on on a wet and semi dry mix? Be cool to see the results. Thanks for all your content.
Does the adhesion really matter? All you are doing is creating a thicker slab, lifting the mortar with it. As long as the slab has full contact with the bed and cannot move, jobs a good un.
Love your videos pal but would slightly disagree with your test, after 6 hours wouldn’t be enough time to get a proper assessment of both mortars, don’t get me wrong I have used a wet mix for years without fail, but with a dryer mix you can get the compression force, with a wet mix you will be left with slight air pockets where the water once was because water isn’t compressive… I would love to see an actual real test where both are aloud to fully cure, and somehow test the strength rather than the grab abilities Pre cured
Very good point hopefully this other video I did where I left the tiles down for a week then pull them up take a look ruclips.net/video/3ecECF8s1go/видео.html 👍🏴
Great video buddy. I'm going to have a go at laying a patio in the coming months. Is it feasible to do in winter? Or do you need to wait for more spring/summer weather? If so I've missed the boat there. Cheers again, from a fellow South Wales-er!
I had a few York Stone slabs in my garden for 30 years . When I last looked , they are all still there exactly as I left them ..... And guesss what , not a bit of mortar to keep them there . GRAVITY WORKS . Fall off scaffold and I will predict which way you will travel . 😅
I’m a big believer in wet mix as I feel when you lay on it , the wet mix can spread when you bed and hit the slab down and I feel will dry together with the primer better, didn’t expect semi dry to work aswell but I feel wet is the one, also would you recommend a grabo for 900x600? Great vid mate
@@tidybrickslandscaping well, we build things all the time but unless you try and break it /test it etc how do you really know if the product is up to it 👍👍
Jonny boy says a dry mix but I couldn’t get a good bond I slurried the porcelain layed on dry mix left for 24hrs then pulled straight up Jonny boy I think is telling people to lay on semi dry so it fails and he can come in and put the job right
There is no bond between the ground (dirt) and the cement wet or dry....the bond is between the tile and the cement. The surface you used for your experiment, the ground, is incorrect....that should have been stone, concrete or some other hard surface...
Interesting experiment. I don’t care I still think wet is better way to go. In this one case maybe the conditions were just right and semi dry stuck very well. In the tiling world you definitely don’t want your thin set to be too dry, you don’t get good adhesion. Maybe you’ll get away with it sometimes but in the long run your thinset has to be wet enough for the tile to adhere well to it.
Block paving ain't stuck down with mortar . We use mortar on slabs to get things perfectly level ir in a true plane . Groundworkers lay slabs on sand because they are shite at compo work and it's too difficult for them (waiting for the comeback from dirt diggers). 😜
A video on how to mix semi dry would be usful. Not many out there. Semi dry concrete I find hard to mix right. To make it fluffy like ready mix I struggle and I have a proper cement mixer.
@@tidybrickslandscaping I will try this but I think it might make it a bit weaker. I got another comment there to wet the sand first in the mixer and then add cement. Some times the simple things can be the toughest to get right
@@marcusd2380 cookies another master of the landscaping game check out his setts videos just incredible designs I’ve watched his videos for hours hoping one day I’ll have the same opportunity to do something similar one day. 👍🏴
Hello quick question in terms of the sand could you use the sand they use in concrete yards when mixing concrete or would that sand be too course for porcelain slabs thanks
@@tidybrickslandscaping no worries thanks it’s kinda like an sbr when you mix the sbr do you add water to it when making slurry what’s your mix ratio and thank for taking time to answer my questions I really appreciate the help
It was a good test and yeh to thin a spread just don’t cut the mustard lava it on like I do in this video about half way through 👍🏴 ruclips.net/video/It8uhaVS4A8/видео.html
Always 4/1 sharp sand mix and I always put a squirt of fairy in the mix as for water amounts just start with less and watch mix for a while then add as needed 👍🏴
Before I did my diy paving.. I watched too many paving experts like you, but you the only one actually doing this kind of tests👍👍
I’m glad you found it off me then 👍🏴
We use semi dry for a variety of reasons, as you say if the primer is put on nice and thick then sticking is no issue at all. Semi dry is cleaner, it is easier to achieve a proper full contact bed and is less prone to shrinkage, you also dont have surrounding slabs moving about with semi dry. You can also screed your beds as well making things much quicker.
For sure it does have its advantages semi dry mixes over wet
Can’t decide what I prefer 👍🏴
Totally agree mate it also wickes the minerals up creating a stronger mortor bed overall rather than a wet mix which would do the opposite
The load on slabs is a downward force. When a patio is laid u do not pull them up for no reason.. they may pop off in winter if pointing in permeable.. ground workers would lay slabs on dryish mix, landscapers lay on wet. But wet comes up in the joints and when the next 1 goes on the previous 1 may move because of slump while the the next slab is knocked on.. try laying kerbs with wet gear, won't happen.. also wet gear will tend to crack on shrinkage, while drylean won't... as long as u apply bonding agent drylean is quicker to use and a lot less mess....
It’s always about the primer wet or semI dry 👍🏴
As most of us will agree, wetter the better 🤣.. But defo wet mix for laying, I’ve had similar issues with semi dry but premier is a must
As it turns out it’s all about the primer 👍🏴
Love the fact it didn’t go as expected but you still posted it.
Not quite sure what you were trying to prove though. 😛
Basically which type stuck the best as it turns out it’s really all about the primer 👍🏴
Fair play making these helpful videos, top man.
Here to help 👍🏴
Still rather lay my flagstone in wet mix, helps me sleep better.. also joint it at the same time in frost freeze areas because it will attach to the base mix under your flagstone. If the joint is laid in at a later date, it could fail years later.
Couldn’t agree more good idea on the jointing 👍🏴
Less water can be a strong longer lasting mix as long as it’s compressed well … you can have to much water as well as not enough.. I use different mixes on different products..paving brickwork and edgers I make all different consistency’s ,, as long as it’s mixed well should set well tho paving with a dry mix will take longer to lay Id say but dry is great for edgers
Totally agree with you mark 👍🏴
GRAVITY IS A GREAT FORCE FOR HOLDING THINGS DOWN AND IN PLACE .
@@johnbowkett80 that does help too 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping I honestly think there are too many armchair wannabe brickies around and don't realise that building ain't rocket science , its been going on since we climbed out the trees . Its common sense and very hard graft but I love the game . Take care . Don't drop a slab on your toes and if you do ... Blame GRAVITY.. 👍👍👍👍👍
@@johnbowkett80 well said 👍🏴
Good way to learn! Thank you!
Glad it helped 👍🏴
Been using semi dry for over 40 years no problems 👍👏🍪
What’s up cookie 🍪 yeh I might go back on semi dry easier to mix too just more primer and lava it on.
Useful video for people to clarify questions I keep getting asked also 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping my go to is poured on bond bridge cement water for sets. and sandstone paving limestone aswell done same on porcelain no problems with sbr mix .it’s easier to mix semi dry couple of taps in ps big fan of yours well done 👏🏴
@@StephenMurrayCookcookie thanks for watching cookie and I’m also a huge fan of yours too let’s put wales on the landscaping map and show em what we can do 👍🏴🏴
Good stuff, as ever 👍
Cheers tony 👍🏴
I watched you build that retaining wall even though I wasn’t building one
Now I’m watching you do this massive job and I’m eyeing up my dead grass and thinking of having a go at this great content boyo
Thanks for watching Christopher yeh man have a go any help just let me know 👍🏴
Thank you
Glad it helped 👍🏴
wouldn't use a drier mix unless I was using a 1200 x1200 tile when it would make more sense to screed it, personally I will always use a wet mix as it creates more suction and is overall a better job for laying tiles individually but can use a screed and screed it out using a drier screed mix but laying tiles individually with a dry mix is nonsense it to only makes sense to use it as a screed in my experience 👍
Yeh I’m a wet mix man I do prefer it 👍🏴
Really enjoy ur content Scott. Always interesting with a lot of humour. I haven’t commented before but this video got me wondering. I always brush primer on with a wet mix and always get a good bond. What do you think the results would be if you brushed the primer on on a wet and semi dry mix? Be cool to see the results. Thanks for all your content.
Thanks for watching Simon glad you enjoy watching my videos 👍🏴
Cracking job geezer.
Glad you enjoyed the video 👍🏴
Does the adhesion really matter? All you are doing is creating a thicker slab, lifting the mortar with it. As long as the slab has full contact with the bed and cannot move, jobs a good un.
It’s always best to make 2 become 1 like the spice girls song lol 👍🏴
Love your videos pal but would slightly disagree with your test, after 6 hours wouldn’t be enough time to get a proper assessment of both mortars, don’t get me wrong I have used a wet mix for years without fail, but with a dryer mix you can get the compression force, with a wet mix you will be left with slight air pockets where the water once was because water isn’t compressive…
I would love to see an actual real test where both are aloud to fully cure, and somehow test the strength rather than the grab abilities Pre cured
Very good point hopefully this other video I did where I left the tiles down for a week then pull them up take a look ruclips.net/video/3ecECF8s1go/видео.html 👍🏴
Great video buddy. I'm going to have a go at laying a patio in the coming months. Is it feasible to do in winter? Or do you need to wait for more spring/summer weather? If so I've missed the boat there.
Cheers again, from a fellow South Wales-er!
Winter time is fine just not below -2 degrees 👍🏴🏴🏴
Semi dry will ultimately be significantly stronger.
Still last a life time I’d say 👍😂
I had a few York Stone slabs in my garden for 30 years . When I last looked , they are all still there exactly as I left them ..... And guesss what , not a bit of mortar to keep them there . GRAVITY WORKS . Fall off scaffold and I will predict which way you will travel . 😅
Now there heavy buggers 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping And valuable down here in Brum .
@@johnbowkett80 don’t let the pikeys see em they’ll be gone 👍🏴
I’m a big believer in wet mix as I feel when you lay on it , the wet mix can spread when you bed and hit the slab down and I feel will dry together with the primer better, didn’t expect semi dry to work aswell but I feel wet is the one, also would you recommend a grabo for 900x600? Great vid mate
I’m glad you found the video interesting as so did I and I would recommend a Grabo for anything except trying to lay block on flat 👍🏴
Great video scott
She is ben glad you enjoyed the video mate 👍🏴
I really like your tests
I’m always up for a test 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping well, we build things all the time but unless you try and break it /test it etc how do you really know if the product is up to it 👍👍
@@4doors_m0r3wh0r3s well said 👍🏴
My at work does a completely dry mix lol
Tell him to add more water 👍🏴
To make semi dry mix just add less water ?
Yep 👍🏴
Jonny boy says a dry mix but I couldn’t get a good bond I slurried the porcelain layed on dry mix left for 24hrs then pulled straight up Jonny boy I think is telling people to lay on semi dry so it fails and he can come in and put the job right
Semi dry is fine just put plenty of primer between the cement bed and tiles and it’ll stick like glue 👍🏴
There is no bond between the ground (dirt) and the cement wet or dry....the bond is between the tile and the cement. The surface you used for your experiment, the ground, is incorrect....that should have been stone, concrete or some other hard surface...
It is stone 100mm worth we lay on a flexible bed over here don’t need concrete it’s only a patio that gets walked on 👍🏴 different in the UK
Interesting experiment. I don’t care I still think wet is better way to go. In this one case maybe the conditions were just right and semi dry stuck very well. In the tiling world you definitely don’t want your thin set to be too dry, you don’t get good adhesion. Maybe you’ll get away with it sometimes but in the long run your thinset has to be wet enough for the tile to adhere well to it.
Totally agree I think the conditions were in favour of the semi dry and yes um already back on the wetter mix already 👍🏴 it was a good test
Thin set is not the same as a sand and cement fix. Thin set is adhesive!
Do u always use sharp? Or change depending on depth... bigger the stone stronger the gear..
Always sharp sand no matter what 👍🏴
Block paving ain't stuck down with mortar . We use mortar on slabs to get things perfectly level ir in a true plane . Groundworkers lay slabs on sand because they are shite at compo work and it's too difficult for them (waiting for the comeback from dirt diggers). 😜
That’s a tough game ground works always in wellies 👍🏴
No difference to get a level.. that's what lines are for.
Hi Scott, Scott here, what a great name.
Anyway.... what ratio of mix do you use buddy!?
4/1 sharp sand mix 👍🏴 top name 🤩
hello, what is your ratio of sharp sand to cement for porcelain slabs? Thanks
4/1 sharp sand 👍🏴
The wet one is better as a landscaper. If you left 24 hours,to 48 hours, you’ll see the difference. The wet one is better.
Agree I prefer wetter so do many others and also a lot of people prefer semi dry. As long as you use plenty of primer they both work well 👍🏴
obviously, wetter is better !!
Yeh I’d say 👍🏴
A video on how to mix semi dry would be usful. Not many out there. Semi dry concrete I find hard to mix right. To make it fluffy like ready mix I struggle and I have a proper cement mixer.
Next time you’re trying to make a fluffy mix squirt a little bit of fairy liquid in it 👍🏴
Best tip wet sand before mixing don’t add water to mixer fluffy every time ps for setts I mix with 3ton digger spot on 👍🍪👏
@@StephenMurrayCookcookie thanking you Stephen for taking the time to write. I’m going to give this a go
@@tidybrickslandscaping I will try this but I think it might make it a bit weaker. I got another comment there to wet the sand first in the mixer and then add cement. Some times the simple things can be the toughest to get right
@@marcusd2380 cookies another master of the landscaping game check out his setts videos just incredible designs I’ve watched his videos for hours hoping one day I’ll have the same opportunity to do something similar one day. 👍🏴
Hello quick question in terms of the sand could you use the sand they use in concrete yards when mixing concrete or would that sand be too course for porcelain slabs thanks
That’s perfect sweep up as much as you can 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping also have you ever used botament d10
@@montdino9775 never heard of it sorry
@@tidybrickslandscaping no worries thanks it’s kinda like an sbr when you mix the sbr do you add water to it when making slurry what’s your mix ratio and thank for taking time to answer my questions I really appreciate the help
I’ve had arguments with my mate about him spreading the primer to thin. 👍🏼 thank you for sorting that for me 😄
It was a good test and yeh to thin a spread just don’t cut the mustard lava it on like I do in this video about half way through 👍🏴 ruclips.net/video/It8uhaVS4A8/видео.html
@@tidybrickslandscaping already seen it. 😄👍🏼
What is the mix ratio (cement, sand , water ) for semi dry & wet ? Thnx
Always 4/1 sharp sand mix and I always put a squirt of fairy in the mix as for water amounts just start with less and watch mix for a while then add as needed 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscapingwhat do you mean fairy ? No idea
@@lisaadam3423 washing up liquid 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping 🤔for what purpose ?
@@lisaadam3423 it’s makes the cement more workable easy to spread than without 👍🏴
What does it prove? Strength? BTW, Who lays stone like that?
Watch the video again and listen and everyone lays stone the same cement primer the stone
So how do you get a semi dry mix?
Just not so much water really 👍🏴
@@tidybrickslandscaping keeps sticking to the mixer drum lol
First 😜
Get in there early my son 👍🏴
What the hell is lava mix? Cheers
Lava it on “ don’t be shy” a good amount 👍🏴
What is the primer mix? Cheers
@@SteveggStevegg that’s a product from Marshall’s it’s a type of cement glue for the back of the tile 👍🏴
A brickies ball.
The other one is slightly bigger 👍🏴
Scotch egg 😃
@@frankbrooker6569 Is that different from a dog egg?
@@coop_coop007 , when its a bit dry n not mixed proper u can get scotch egg effect . Dog eggs ? I'll be picking them up later no doubt
Love scotch eggs 🤤👍🏴
I bet when you picked up the semi dry one you thought, ( yer bastard it's callin me a fuckin lier ) 😅😂🤪☮✊
I was certainly busted I was so wrong lol 👍🏴