Can I lay block paving on sand and cement mortar?

This can be a very uncommon practice, especially in the UK because normally the type of paving laid here is flexible on top of just the bed of sand – allowing the blocks to adjust and settle down over time.

Almost all of the block pavings you see nearby are flexible laid on sub-base and sand if you have not actually seen the process of laying yourself.

Laying rigid paving in a normal case rather than traditional flexible paving can have some disadvantages.

Once set, there is no chance to re-use or relay the blocks as they would be ruined completely because of the cement that goes into the process of laying them.

Also, apart from the back of the blocks, mortar stains that go on the face of the blocks during the laying process no matter how much you care, they will stain and it’s a complete different job itself to clean those stains.

It would be very hard to achieve that kind of leveling where it will create a uniform, kind of flat surface as a paving out of porcelain or natural stones.

If you’re thinking to lay block paving on sand and cement mortar because it will create a stronger surface you might be wrong.

Block pavings are laid on sharp sand (of course, not just the sharp sand, there is the sub-base that goes down first which bears the load of the paving) for decades and still fine and running.