So we dug up our old patio which was laid as follows: slabs -> thin layer of sand (10mm?) -> thin concrete base (maybe 20mm?) -> more sand/soil mix (40-50mm) -> thick clay. The patio is pretty well contained with a brick wall at the front and gravel boards (fence) and brick walls on the sides.
It's currently been pretty dry for several days and hot in London, the clay started to have a few cracks here and there (see photos).
I am aware of the proper way to lay a patio i.e. sub-base should be MOT type 1 or similar then full bed of cement/sand mix (5:1) of up to 50mm. However I don't have the time/money to now change things up especially disposal of all the excavated material. I already made the mistake of ordering and moving 2 bulk bags of sharp sand into my garden first before excavating for the full bed as I didn't know there would be so much sand already under the slabs which I could of just made use of instead!
So now I ended up with 2 new bulk bags of sharp sand, 5 bulk bags of a sand mix (excavated) and 2 bulk bags of soil (excavated) as well as maybe half a bulk bag of concrete/hardcore.
I want to make use of what I have to put together a "semi-sub base" then full bed of cement and slabs even if it just lasts a few years.
Initially I planned to do a 8/9:1 sand cement mix semi-dry as sub-base compacted (100mm), thereby letting it dry and cure even if for a week or more. Then 30-50mm full cement bed (5:1) and slabs on top.
I am just now concerned about the clay/cracking what impact this could have once the cement cures or should I go ahead? Maybe first spreading finer hardcore with sand before the dry mix would be better?
Any ideas of the best way to go ahead given the situation at hand?
It's currently been pretty dry for several days and hot in London, the clay started to have a few cracks here and there (see photos).
I am aware of the proper way to lay a patio i.e. sub-base should be MOT type 1 or similar then full bed of cement/sand mix (5:1) of up to 50mm. However I don't have the time/money to now change things up especially disposal of all the excavated material. I already made the mistake of ordering and moving 2 bulk bags of sharp sand into my garden first before excavating for the full bed as I didn't know there would be so much sand already under the slabs which I could of just made use of instead!
So now I ended up with 2 new bulk bags of sharp sand, 5 bulk bags of a sand mix (excavated) and 2 bulk bags of soil (excavated) as well as maybe half a bulk bag of concrete/hardcore.
I want to make use of what I have to put together a "semi-sub base" then full bed of cement and slabs even if it just lasts a few years.
Initially I planned to do a 8/9:1 sand cement mix semi-dry as sub-base compacted (100mm), thereby letting it dry and cure even if for a week or more. Then 30-50mm full cement bed (5:1) and slabs on top.
I am just now concerned about the clay/cracking what impact this could have once the cement cures or should I go ahead? Maybe first spreading finer hardcore with sand before the dry mix would be better?
Any ideas of the best way to go ahead given the situation at hand?
