Mixing Packs of Materials
When laying paving, setts, bricks or other products, especially those deemed to be mono- colour, i.e not sold as a multi-coloured package, it is always advisable to open two, three or more packs when distributing them around the working area, as variations in hue may result, even though apparently carrying the same batch number and code on the crate/shrink-wrap.
This is to avoid banding, or areas of one shade, from dominating a section, creating a mottle effect due to being drawn from a single pack. This suggestion is important whether laying bricks as paving or for building walls. Very often, on building sites where speed is of the essence, and the labourer does not realise the shade variations from pack to pack, you will see ‘panels’ or rows of different shades of hue within the finished works.
