I have what appears to be a well constructed 4-6 inch concrete patio deck adjoining the back of my house. There are 4 of these slabs about 12 feet x 12 feet with a bull-nosed cold joint seperating them. I wish to cover the concrete with used brick pavers. What will the best type of adhesive to use (thinset?) and should I lay the pavers over the cold joint, or cut a paver up to the edge and use grout to fill over the joint? Any help you professionals could offer will be a great help. I live in Southern California so extremes of climate is not an issue. Thank you.
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No extreme climate but slipping fault lines may be an issue, Eh?
That is probably the reason for the bull nosed control joints. Yes, you should end the pavers at the edge of each and grout. Otherwise, if the slabs shift, you will loosen tiles.
Other questions,
How high from concrete to step up into house at door now?
Why used? What condition are they in?
What sort of finish on the concrete? Broom, smooth trowel, or polished.
Has concrete been sealed with a glaze or painted?
What is your skill level for masonry and tile work?
I dry laid a 12x30 patio using brick pavers on gravel and sand base.
An old/settling concrete patio was jackhammered out.
If the concrete had been in good shape I would have laid the bricks on top with no adhesive/mortar.
During this project I took care of some perimeter drainage issues, sloping the base and lining it with plastic.
If you don't get much rain, I would first dry lay the bricks and go a season or two.
On a concrete base, you may also want to skip the interlocking sand.
You may need to mortar down the perimeter bricks.
So...my suggestion is dry laying paver bricks is not difficult and will give you a chance to evaluate some things before moving ahead with a permanent/mortared down installation.