patio laying for a beginner

Hi,

I am a n00b and need help.

My back garden has a patio which is in bad shape. It's uneven, many of the slabs wobble and the slabs look horrible.

I've decided to relay the patio myself (with new slabs) but I have lots of questions and I can't seem to find the answers online that I need.

So here goes:

I think I am going to need a skip to dispose of the old slabs, is there any better way to dispose on concrete slabs?

Is there a tried and tested method for getting up the slabs that are still cemented down firmly? Or do I hit them with a big hammer?

I've looked under a few of the slabs and it just seems to be a bit of sand and then warwickshire clay soil. Do I need hardcore? Its my rear garden and will only have people walking on it. (no cars or anything like that)

Should I cement the tiles I lay?

Can I buy hardcore is small bags or does it need to be delived by a lorry?

And finally...any ideas why what I can do to ensure that my new patio doesn't become uneven like the last one?

Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks for you help.

Andy

andy176822 said:

is there any better way to dispose on concrete slabs?

Click to expand...

hit it with a big hammer and sell it as hard core, you could even sell it to yourself (10% to me for giving you the idea)

as for the rest, not sure, but these people have a good website

stack them in the front garden and put a note on "free slabs, take em if you want em.."

there are people out there who need the odd slab to patch a few broken ones in their garden.. or maybe as a base to put a shed on.. or to break up as hardcore...

someone will want them..

you could also try your local freecycle group where people give away or trade stuff they don't need for free or in exchange for stuff they do need..

or the local paper..