Help with Patio Stone Lay out

[JB4310]

SWMBO (love that one) wants a patio, I've got the time as contracting business is slow, got the stone for barter, beautiful heavy blue stone, was at a convent and they had to remove it to install a play yard for the daycare that's there now. It's been piled up for 20 years, had my eye on it, when they asked me to do some minor work I asked for the stone, they were more than happy with the deal as they were tired of looking at it. only cost me about $300. to do the work.

So the question is, is there a simple program to lay out the stone within the dimensions I want the patio, tried cutting little pcs of graph paper, but that's not working. This stone is 1.5-2.5 inches thick, to heavy to place down just to see if it works and move again and again. I've got to have a plan as to where each stone will go, already handled them 4 times just to get them home. Will use tractor for all prep work and use forks to move them to work area.

There are many sizes but all are 24" wide, and all come out to an exact sq ft dimension, so there must be a formula to lay out randomly, I know it would be easy to lay them all in straight lines, and wouldn't really need a blue print, but then there would be straight lines every 2 feet all the way across the patio, would like to break it up more.

The sizes and quantities are:

24"x18" = 30 pcs.
24x24 ----23 pcs
24x30 ----43 pcs
24x36 ----15 pcs
24x42 ----10 pcs

This all comes to ~550 SQ FT I want to build a 20'x24' patio which is 480 SQ FT so I should have enough to do what I want even with the random pattern.

I also have 200 SQ FT of 18" wide stone if needed, and some monsters 3'x4'

Any ideas on a simple to use program that I might already have or free to download? I have the deluxe office edition of MS word, never used much of it though. never done any CAD work.

Thanks, JB.

 

[CurlyDave]

When we put in a tile entry, I was astonished to find out there are thousands of more or less "standard" tile patterns.

We chose what was called a "Venetian" pattern with a lot of different sizes of tiles and it came out great. A lot classier than just plain tiles on a square pattern.

Since you already have the tiles, you may have to work this backwards -- look at a number of possible patterns and see what % of tiles of each size you need for that pattern.

Anyway, go to a good tile shop and ask to see their book of tile patterns. You will be amazed at the possibilities, any of which will look a a lot better than a simple pattern.

It might be worthwhile to actually buy a book on tile patterns before you start.

I can't help with any software, but you are on the right track here. A really nice pattern is no more physical labor than a plain one, but does take some extra effort to lay out.

 

[Airic]

what a great find. Blue stone is not cheap. I would love to come upon a find like this. I would not set up for any particular pattern and just go randum and don't line up four corners. All your joints should be "T's".

 

[studor]

When I had to do a "pattern" with five different sizes of tile, SWIMBO insisted that it appear completely random. I discovered that the easiest way to do it was to lay the biggest pieces so they were never beside or corner to corner, then fill in randomly with the smaller pieces never creating a straight line longer than the biggest tile. I dry laid them and then took a digital picture of them so I could get them the same after mortaring. I thought there should be an easier engineered way to do it but when I asked an old tile layer I know he said he did it the same way. It is more work but after you have laid a couple of "rows" you will figure out the repetition part even though others will not when it is laid.
regards

 

[JB4310]

Thanks everyone for the replies,

I'll start at the tile shop I've done business with before.

I'm sure the cost of this stone would be considerable, once in awhile I have to buy 1or 2 pcs for a repair and it's $25-40. apiece, maybe twice as much for the bigger ones.

These stones will not be mortared but set in stone dust over a prepared base. There's just no way to start placing them to try and see how they look, they are way to heavy I've got to know where each stone is going to be placed before we get started.

Me and my helper had all we could do moving these things, all except the smallest ones require 2 men to lift and some are real BB's.

If I have to I'll put them in a straight line, with all the different lengths there would be random end joints but will have straight lines every 24" but in 20' that's only 10 courses.

Came up with one simple idea but not sure how it would look. Starting in one corner, go out in one direction with the first course then with the next course go 90 degrees away from the first corner pc. then keep changing back and forth. So there would be a staggered pattern at a 45 degree angle from the starting point, but the courses would be straight still just in 2 directions?

Anyone have a simple drawing program?

Thanks, JB.

 

[Barton]

I bet you could get some good help from the pros over at the groundtradesxchange forum.

 

[Richard]

Looks like flagstone? We (I) put it down also however, ours was irregular. What made it interesting is on the parts where the wife was helping me we'd have a spot for a stone...look at it and say "honey, have you seen a Texas or Ohio????" and ended up using the states as descriptions to the shape we needed.

Of course, the person who was asked the above question, ALWAYS responded with "why yes, honey, I have seen a nice stone over here...would you like me to bring it to you sweety...."

Seriously... we never ever vented our frustrations with laying 20 tons of the stuff.... would I lie to you?!!

Crud... I can't find a quick picture that really shows the back patio. you can see it but it has tables all over the place (taken day of our wedding which we held on patio)

 

[Carykong]

if you are flexible on the final dimensions, start in the middle and work out with ever expanding perimeter until you run out of stone.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

check with the convent and ask if they have an old picture of the area where the stones came from to see how they had it laid out?

 

[mjncad]

So the question is, is there a simple program to lay out the stone within the dimensions I want the patio, tried cutting little pcs of graph paper, but that's not working. Thanks, JB.

That's quite a find you made there. Since you say you aren't CAD literate, I'd go back to your paper dolls as we used to call it in the engineering business. If you try to use MS Office's drawing tools, you will just frustrate yourself to the point of serious drinking.

I'd go 1/2" = 1'-0" scale, or if you really want a dining room table sized jigsaw puzzle, go with 1" = 1'-0". Most graph paper is 1/4" spacing, so one square would equal 6" at 1/2" = 1'-0". Number the pieces in some logical manner such as A1, A2, etc for 24" x 18" stones; B1, B2, etc for 24" x 24" stones, and so on. Make a layout on your table, then take a picture of it. Keep playing paper dolls and taking pictures until SWMBO is happy with a pattern.

I'm also guessing you are trying to use the stones as is with minimal cutting to save yourself grief.

Have fun.