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Which is right..?
Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:170233
Hi All This is more newbie question from a newbie gardener for you. I am planning to lay slabs in our middle of the backgarden, so we can have extra patio ares and also put a shed there. I ahve not done this work before, and I was watching TV DIY program, and also read DIY books from the library. But they are teling different stories. The books says that you must dig 1 ft deep, and then put hardcore for 0.5 ft and level it, then put sand and then slabs can be laid on it. Tommy Walsh in H&L channel DIY program was teaching his students - just make motar (5 builders sand + 1 cement), and he just put them on the flattened soil, and then laid slabs on it. No hardcore, no sand.. - surely this will create drainage problem, and due to soil movement - slabs will go up and down in a few years? What do you advise on this? cheers Dan |
Which is right..?
In article ,
DLee wrote: I am planning to lay slabs in our middle of the backgarden, so we can have extra patio ares and also put a shed there. I ahve not done this work before, and I was watching TV DIY program, and also read DIY books from the library. But they are teling different stories. The books says that you must dig 1 ft deep, and then put hardcore for 0.5 ft and level it, then put sand and then slabs can be laid on it. Tommy Walsh in H&L channel DIY program was teaching his students - just make motar (5 builders sand + 1 cement), and he just put them on the flattened soil, and then laid slabs on it. No hardcore, no sand.. - surely this will create drainage problem, and due to soil movement - slabs will go up and down in a few years? Neither. The former is WAY overkill, and is what you need to do if building something to take light goods vehicles! The latter is a damn-fool idea, for the reasons you give, amongst others. Cormaic has some first-class Web pages on this, but I forget where they are. Even they are slightly overkill for a simple patio and shed, but tell you how to do the job 'properly'. If you have stable soil (i.e. largely sand or gravel), then you don't need any foundation - just tread the soil down well. If you are on clay, then it will heave a bit if you do that, but that isn't critical for a patio and shed base. You then want to use 2" of sharp sand to lay the slabs on. You CAN lay slabs straight on soil (I have done a lot of that), but it is a right pain in the neck unless the soil is (a) very sandy and (b) very dry. I wouldn't advise it, starting now. For a simple patio and shed base, you can be very laid back indeed. Follow Cormaic's Web pages, but don't worry about getting everything perfect. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Which is right..?
"DLee" wrote in message ... Hi All This is more newbie question from a newbie gardener for you. I am planning to lay slabs in our middle of the backgarden, so we can have extra patio ares and also put a shed there. I ahve not done this work before, and I was watching TV DIY program, and also read DIY books from the library. But they are teling different stories. The books says that you must dig 1 ft deep, and then put hardcore for 0.5 ft and level it, then put sand and then slabs can be laid on it. Tommy Walsh in H&L channel DIY program was teaching his students - just make motar (5 builders sand + 1 cement), and he just put them on the flattened soil, and then laid slabs on it. No hardcore, no sand.. - surely this will create drainage problem, and due to soil movement - slabs will go up and down in a few years? What do you advise on this? Tommy Walsh's method is a cowboy method. You are likely to be sorry if you follow it. Franz |
Which is right..?
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , DLee wrote: I am planning to lay slabs in our middle of the backgarden, so we can have extra patio ares and also put a shed there. I ahve not done this work before, and I was watching TV DIY program, and also read DIY books from the library. But they are teling different stories. The books says that you must dig 1 ft deep, and then put hardcore for 0.5 ft and level it, then put sand and then slabs can be laid on it. Tommy Walsh in H&L channel DIY program was teaching his students - just make motar (5 builders sand + 1 cement), and he just put them on the flattened soil, and then laid slabs on it. No hardcore, no sand.. - surely this will create drainage problem, and due to soil movement - slabs will go up and down in a few years? Neither. The former is WAY overkill, and is what you need to do if building something to take light goods vehicles! The latter is a damn-fool idea, for the reasons you give, amongst others. Cormaic has some first-class Web pages on this, but I forget where they are. Even they are slightly overkill for a simple patio and shed, but tell you how to do the job 'properly'. If you have stable soil (i.e. largely sand or gravel), then you don't need any foundation - just tread the soil down well. If you are on clay, then it will heave a bit if you do that, but that isn't critical for a patio and shed base. You then want to use 2" of sharp sand to lay the slabs on. You CAN lay slabs straight on soil (I have done a lot of that), but it is a right pain in the neck unless the soil is (a) very sandy and (b) very dry. I wouldn't advise it, starting now. For a simple patio and shed base, you can be very laid back indeed. Follow Cormaic's Web pages, but don't worry about getting everything perfect. I can agree with Nicks comments.. See cormaic's pages .. The short answer.. 'Both' methods are accptable, but one will last longer than the other.. the method shown is a 'quicky' method.. acceptable for light domestic use.. The hardcore method is 'industrial' style.. By the book (probably) and would be more acceptable to heavy pedestrian traffic. http://www.pavingexpert.com is the site Nick refers to. // Jim |
Which is right..?
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