Pavingexpert - AJ McCormack and Son - Setting Out Herringbone Paving

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Setting Out Herringbone

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90° Pattern
45° Pattern
Other Patterns

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Introduction All block paving for trafficked areas, such as driveways, should be laid in a fully interlocked pattern. The most popular such patterns are 45° or 90° Herringbone patterns. On this page, diagrams will be used to show how to set up such patterns. A separate page shows a neat trick for setting-up a 45° herringbone pattern.

90° Herringbone Pattern This is the simpler of the herringbone patterns to set up. Decide on a "base-line" that will be the start of the pattern. This is usually taken to be a line along the main directriopn of travel or one that is parallel or at right angles to the house or other building. If there is a right-angle corner, the setting out can be based on the two lines, as shown in the diagram below. Setting out a perpendicular, ie a line at exactly 90° to the base line, is described on the setting-out page.
On a square or rectangular area, a 90° herringbone pattern can be used to keep cutting to a minimum. Only one block width in 4 need be cut to fit, and judicious positioning of edge courses can ensure that the pavement is a given number of full bricks wide. It is best to start laying tight against a fixed edge, such as against an edging course, but if this is not possible, then a taut string line can be established as the base-line.	Sequence of laying to establish a 90° pattern click here for animated version

90° herringbone as a car park walkway

90° herringbone makes for easy marking of parking bays

45° Herringbone Pattern
Click here for a downloadable A4 gif file of 45° 2:1 herringbone pattern which can be printed out.
This pattern is identical to the pattern above, except that it has been rotated through 45°. It can be set out exactly as shown above, by establishing the base-line at 45° and laying the blocks square to this line. Alternatively, a base-line can be set up square to the work, and the blocks laid at 45° to this line. This second method may at first seem complicated, but is particularly valuable for ensuring that the alignment is not drifting out of true with subsequent courses of blocks.
When establishing this pattern, the best visual effect is achieved by laying the blocks in such a manner that the "chevrons" run along the principal direction of traffic or along the length of the driveway (logitudinal), rather than across (transverse).

longitudinal herringbone
Chevrons running in direction of travel
(Longitudinal) transverse herringbone
Chevrons running across direction of travel
(Transverse)

With this pattern, most of the blocks at the edge of the work will need to be cut at an angle to fit in. It is usual to lay all the full bricks first, then once these have been checked for alignment, the edge pieces can be cut in. Leaving out the edge pieces allows the body of the paving to be accurately aligned BEFORE fastening in the work. In the following diagrams, the bricks are the standard 200x100mm plan size blocks most commonly used for domestic paving.

starter course
Setting up the first line of blocks postioning
By using this spacing of 215mm, the amount of wastage on cut blocks is minimised.

Continue to lay as many full blocks as possible and then check the alignment, using a pinch-bar or pavior's mall to 'nudge' blocks into line. Once the alignment is complete, the edge blocks can be cut to shape and fitted in prior to final sealing.

complete starter course
Complete the double starter course as shown. This starter course should be as long as possible, to ensure accuracy

Add further courses, working along one course at a time

check with line
Use taut string line to check for accuracy every few courses, and prevent the pattern from 'drifting'.
The corners of each block should be just touching the line, as shown.

A clever variation of this method is shown on a separate page.

click here for animated version
See Cutting page for details on cutting blocks.

Other Herringbone Patterns
Herringbone patterns can be created using any rectangular pavior or any combining any 2 paving units. This allows unique patterning to be acheived by mixing paviors of your choice. You can mix concrete blocks with small concrete flags/slabs, or clay paviors with the smaller clay cobbles. Even the traditional "3 by 2's" can be laid in a herringbone pattern. The possibilities are endless, the diagrams below show a few patterns to set you thinking.

200x100mm bricks with 60x60mm cobbles
Click here to see this pattern when laid
600x600mm flags with 2nr 200x100mm blocks
Click here to see this pattern when laid

900x600mm flags laid as herringbone

The following are all drawn to the same scale and rely on using just one block size.
3:1 block (200x66mm) laid to 90° Herringbone	3:1 block (200x66mm) laid to 45° Herringbone	4:1 block (200x50mm) laid to 90° Herringbone	4:1 block (200x50mm) laid to 45° Herringbone
3:2 block (200x133mm) laid to 90° Herringbone	3:2 block (200x133mm) laid to 45° Herringbone	4:3 block (160x120mm) laid to 90° Herringbone	4:3 block (160x120mm) laid to 45° Herringbone

3:2 ratio herringbone	Two-size herringbone
45 degree 4:1 ratio herringbone	Herringbone using "Bishop's Hats" as starter blocks

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45° Herringbone Pattern Click here for a downloadable A4 gif file of 45° 2:1 herringbone pattern which can be printed out. This pattern is identical to the pattern above, except that it has been rotated through 45°. It can be set out exactly as shown above, by establishing the base-line at 45° and laying the blocks square to this line. Alternatively, a base-line can be set up square to the work, and the blocks laid at 45° to this line. This second method may at first seem complicated, but is particularly valuable for ensuring that the alignment is not drifting out of true with subsequent courses of blocks. When establishing this pattern, the best visual effect is achieved by laying the blocks in such a manner that the "chevrons" run along the principal direction of traffic or along the length of the driveway (logitudinal), rather than across (transverse).
Chevrons running in direction of travel (Longitudinal)	Chevrons running across direction of travel (Transverse)
With this pattern, most of the blocks at the edge of the work will need to be cut at an angle to fit in. It is usual to lay all the full bricks first, then once these have been checked for alignment, the edge pieces can be cut in. Leaving out the edge pieces allows the body of the paving to be accurately aligned BEFORE fastening in the work. In the following diagrams, the bricks are the standard 200x100mm plan size blocks most commonly used for domestic paving.
Setting up the first line of blocks	By using this spacing of 215mm, the amount of wastage on cut blocks is minimised.
Continue to lay as many full blocks as possible and then check the alignment, using a pinch-bar or pavior's mall to 'nudge' blocks into line. Once the alignment is complete, the edge blocks can be cut to shape and fitted in prior to final sealing.
Complete the double starter course as shown. This starter course should be as long as possible, to ensure accuracy	Add further courses, working along one course at a time
Use taut string line to check for accuracy every few courses, and prevent the pattern from 'drifting'. The corners of each block should be just touching the line, as shown.
A clever variation of this method is shown on a separate page.
click here for animated version See Cutting page for details on cutting blocks.

Other Herringbone Patterns Herringbone patterns can be created using any rectangular pavior or any combining any 2 paving units. This allows unique patterning to be acheived by mixing paviors of your choice. You can mix concrete blocks with small concrete flags/slabs, or clay paviors with the smaller clay cobbles. Even the traditional "3 by 2's" can be laid in a herringbone pattern. The possibilities are endless, the diagrams below show a few patterns to set you thinking.
200x100mm bricks with 60x60mm cobbles Click here to see this pattern when laid	600x600mm flags with 2nr 200x100mm blocks Click here to see this pattern when laid
900x600mm flags laid as herringbone

Introduction

90° Herringbone Pattern

45° Herringbone Pattern

Other Herringbone Patterns

Other Block Paving pages on this site