Patio step questions

[Deano3]

Hi everyone hope you are well. I have been on removing a load of mortar from top of brick wall in garden as all coping stones are loose hopefully doesnt have to be perfect to lay a new bed of mortar, what mix do you think would be best of sand cement ? Also a load of the bricks on top layer of the wall are loose so going to use a mortar rake and re-point as worried if I remove the bricks the layer underneath will come loose.

Secondly i will attatch some pictures of the step under my bifold doors. The step is to hight and above DPC or level with it, also the slabs are loose and noticed inside the step just filled with mortar and some sort of self leveling stuff I imagine builder wanted rid of at some point.

Would you remove the step entirely or could I leave a gap at the back of step of half a brick going all the way along so have air flow and place the slab ontop so wouldn't see it if that makes sense.

Thanks any help appreciated
Thanks dean

 

[Wayners]

4 to 1 to 5 to 1 mix with full mortar bed.
It's not critical.
Buy a bag of slurry mix for the back of slabs or make your own slurry mix up with SBR and cement.

Could you fit aco drain along wall edge?

 

[Deano3]

4 to 1 to 5 to 1 mix with full mortar bed.
It's not critical.
Buy a bag of slurry mix for the back of slabs or make your own slurry mix up with SBR and cement.

Could you fit aco drain along wall edge?

Brilliant so just sharp sand and a general purpose cement ?

And not really as the patio slopes into the drain now so levels are set for where it is and i dont want to disturb to much. I will eventually get redone by a professional however other things to do at moment only been in house 2 years so trying to do the best job I can for relatively cheap thats why going to tackle the loose bricks and coping stones myself.

Just trying to see what is best way to go about the step already removed a load of mortar from inside the step as was just piled in rather than laying ontop of bricks, if I placed the slabs ontop of bricks around perimeter would it just come loose you think ?

I will get some pictures of another issue i have there is some steps going to my grass area and the wall on right when walk up is loose so think going to have to remove bricks and refit but think may need some bars or a sabrefix wall tie kit or something in to hold to the retaining wall you can see in picture as larage gap behind the main wall to the wall going up the stairs, you can also see bottom step in picture could I do that to the step under the bifolds ?

Thanks again
Dean

 

[Wayners]

I use a 42l tub like sold at Wickes.
Cheap paddle mixer that are around £50. Had that years.
Some add mixture.
2 buckets of sharp sand..
Half bucket of cement.
Splash of add mix.
Water.
As for retaining wall I have limited knowledge.

What about gravel along the wall. Many don't and it's fine.

 

[Deano3]

I use a 42l tub like sold at Wickes.
Cheap paddle mixer that are around £50. Had that years.
Some add mixture.
2 buckets of sharp sand..
Half bucket of cement.
Splash of add mix.
Water.
As for retaining wall I have limited knowledge.

What about gravel along the wall. Many don't and it's fine.

I will get some cement and sand and find some add mix and I would ideally keep the step so not a high of a drop.

Do the wall tops jeed to be perfect meaning every bit of old mortar removed or as long as relatively clear is that ok ? I have removed all the large parts or down to brick on most.

Also do you think with the top row of bricks being loose i will he able to just rake and repoint ?

Just wondering what is the best thing to do with step is.

1, totally remove step
2, remove the pavers and all the mortar mix from inside the step and use bricks to lay the pavers on as in pic above (around edges) and also leave a gap along the back of step of half a brick or so for air flow

Just want to improve it now noticed it was a bit bodged and filled with all sorts.
Thanks for your help so far its appreciated.

Dean

 

[Wayners]

You don't need to scrape off all the mortar. Just the loose.
You can always slurry the bricks when you stick down.
I'm dipping my slab brick edgers in slurry just before I push in sand and cement.
Wetter mix is easier although sometimes you need a thicker mix to build up depth. Just experiment.
Not sure about step. Last one I done was a full sand and cement bed against bricks and I layed porcelain tiles on it.
What was asked so that's what I done.

There is plenty of advice online and sometimes I think you just need to go for it.

 

[Deano3]

Agree can spend forever think about something but just need to get one and relay the loose bricks and coping stones then tackle the wall. Thanks for all your advice

Anyone else got opinion for the step below the door and what would be best to do ?

Thanks dean

 

[foxhole]

Overhang of slab looks a trip hazard?

 

[Deano3]

Overhang of slab looks a trip hazard?

I dont mind that only in our back garden and 1 brick high never had a issue at all and water runs off into the aco. The issue is what's best to do inside the step .

1, totally remove step as level with the dpc
2, remove the pavers and all the mortar mix from inside the step and use bricks to lay the pavers on as in pic above (around edges) and also leave a gap along the back of step of half a brick or so for air flow or just lay pavers ontop of the bricks around edges of the step and add bricks into the middle so supported right around edge of each paver.

Thanks dean