[earthscape on]

is it just me or does laying random flag(1/4 to 1/2 inch joints) take longer to install than sq cut? both dry laid. Also, do most people install sq cut wet laid?

[Nathaniel Carr]

Funny you should mention that. I had been bidding work counting on a production rate for Irregular flagging at 8 feet per hour. Low and behold the crew is installing it at 5 feet per hour. WOW that hurts.
We have a job coming up using gauged bluestone in an assortment of sizes, I am planning on laying them on to a screed bed, that should go way faster!

[skahuna]

it takes a lot longer, theres a lot more junk stone on the pallets and you waste more with cuts. for me i would say 50% more labor to lay
you can dry lay square cut. in my area pa bluestone is popular
it comes in 1" (nominally) or 2" and the 2" is good to dry lay

[skahuna]

gauged bluestone is great to work with. I used it for the first time on my last bluestone job not quite as fast as pavers you will still trowel and tap a little but much quicker than normal.

[Lanelle]

In this area we call bluestone that is rectangular or square, random and pieces that are broken into odd shapes, irregular.

Even the random is full of waste at this point. Some is too irregular on the surface--bad cleft, trip hazard and some has calcium deposits that are difficult to remove. And, of course there are the pieces that are nearly 2" on one end and only 1/2" thick on the other.
We may have to go to using premium bluestone to avoid the waste.

[earthscape on]

so if labour of installing the stone is 50 % more, and excavation and prep work is the same, then at the end of the day is it safe to say that random shoud cost 30 % more than sq cut ? Also, on average what percentage of your jobs are random vs sq cut? Which do you prefer to install. i know that some just look better depending on house design. Thanks