Laying A Garden Patio

[emmkat]

Hello

Is it necessary to have cement with sharp sand as a base, or can I just use sharp sand, and use the cement for the grouting?

Thanks

 

[Richard C]

If you just lay the slabs on sharp sand, they will be all over the place in a very short time. You need to dig out & lay 3"-4” of MOT type 1 crushed concrete for a base, compact it with a wacker plate & then bed the slabs on a week sand/cement mix. Better to point with a standard wet mortar mix rather than a dry mix & hosing it down.

 

[emmkat]

If you just lay the slabs on sharp sand, they will be all over the place in a very short time. You need to dig out & lay 3"-4” of MOT type 1 crushed concrete for a base, compact it with a wacker plate & then bed the slabs on a week sand/cement mix. Better to point with a standard wet mortar mix rather than a dry mix & hosing it down.

ok thanx, but when i lay the weak sand/cement mix do i spray with water before laying them

 

[leeco]

This site is where you need to look.

http://www.pavingexpert.com/patio01.htm

http://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag3.htm

 

[Richard C]

ok thanx, but when i lay the weak sand/cement mix do i spray with water before laying them

No use a moist or wet mix, not dry mix; on ragingly hot days, you can give the base a light mist spray before you start but don’t overdo it. Compact the base (hire a waker plate) & providing it’s just a patio with no heavy loading, use a 9:1 mix. Lay the slabs with 5 generious dabs per slab to allow for levelling & give a good bed; make sure you have a fall to allow rain water to drain away properly. Fall away from any walls & the slabs should be at least 150mm below any damp course; for pointing up, use a 4/5:1 semi-wet mix mortar & compact it well into the gaps.

 

[r896neo]

If you are using natural stone it is best to lay them on a full bed rather than dabs of any variety.