Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Im in the process of planning a patio for my garden. I need some advice on laying them 
I have 15-17sqm to lay, depending on which design i go for.
I will be using 500mm x 500mm x 50mm Granite slabs (which im getting for a serious bargain price of £17 sqm)
What the best method to lay them? My mate who has quoted me to lay them has said he probably wouldnt use a hardcore base, and just lay directly on sand/cement dry base, as the ground is hard as hell here.
But what ive read online is to lay a 100mm type 1 base, then sand/cement dry mix base.
Whats my best option ?
[Edited on 24-05-2011 by Dan]
[Edited on 04-06-2011 by Dan]
[Edited on 21-06-2011 by Dan]
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RichR
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Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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I would have thought any decent job would need a good hardcore base. The last thing you want to have to do is lift them if they start sagging - That said, you're not putting cars on it etc so maybe it would be ok.
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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quote:
Originally posted by Dan
But what ive read online is to lay a 100mm type 1 base, then sand/cement dry mix base.
This for a proper job irrespective of ground conditions
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Thing is, i will probably lift this patio in 2 or 3 years, so i can add a conservatory.
hmm
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RichR
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Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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in which case what's the point? Could you not make do with a gravel patio or similar for the time being; lay a weed blanket and over fill with gravel
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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I just put mine on sand/cement mix on top of compacted soil. Think it will be ok for as long as I live here anyway.
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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I'll just move the patio further up the garden when I do the conservatory, so there is every point. The conservatory may be Alot further away.
That's what I'm thinking Colin. Any good step by step guides?
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Not really 
I built a frame from timber sleepers (more to take up the gradient) then hired a whacker plate, compacted the soil, then compacted sharp sand on top then laid the patio slabs.
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Is a frame a must? Although having said that, i may use some granite 6 x 6 in edging to create a step up into the garden.
Is just going out and digging it up to how i want it a bad move without much more planning
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Nah not at all, like I said it was mainly to provide retaining wall / take the gradient away from the drop at the rear.
Does look good though.
No pic's of mine but I was inspired by Antnee's - http://www.c20xe.co.uk/board/viewthread.php?tid=522848
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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^Thats a much better job than mine though....I didnt have 4 guys to help so I got what I did!!
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Yea i love that garden, very smart. Way out of my budget.
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Fad
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Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
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Just make sure that the patio is at least 150mm below the dpc.
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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need good hardcore base
And to have a proper job done by somebody it will be costly
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Finally about to start this.
Changed from granite to riven bradstone slabs. Which are 3 different sizes.
Going out this morning to start churning up the soil, ready to shovel out. I dont have room for a skip as it would leave no space for car anywhere near. So going to use 1 tonne bags and get them collected when the sharp sand gets delivered.
Not sure on how to do the base yet. My builder mate is telling me cement mix, which is moist, not wet or dry. Then lay that directly onto soil at 40mm thick and lay slabs onto this.
Im thinking more of going down the dry mix screeded and laid onto this.
Ill research that more as i go. Pics to follow in due coarse.
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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So the great patio project begins...
Never done it before, gotta learn some way, so gonna give it a go.
Heres the starting point
Set out a little while ago, and have dug out a perimeter to give me something to work to. The garden is on a slight uphill gradient, so its going to need a fair amount of digging at the edge.
Heres the perimeter. It will be 5.4m x 3.16m.
Im planning on using some new sleepers to give a step up from the patio to the rest of the garden.
Perimeter
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Disaster one has already struck!
Bloody paving supplier told me the packs i have had a laying pattern that makes 1.8m x 3.15m.
When infact, they are 1.98m x 2.75m
So the boundary i dug to long and not wide enough. Not to much of an issue, but just means more excavation to the sides, and ill have to fill in the bit thats to long.
Just sat waiting fo a skip to arrive now. Itching to get on!
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VrsTurbo
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Registered: 8th Jun 10
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i would of made it up the fence post of the garden gate
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Yea that's what I wanted butthe design wasn't wide enough.
Luckily the new design is wider. So it's now covering the whole gate.
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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bear in mind drainage away from the property. are you having any gravel between the slabs and the wall?
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Yea, 100mm of stone between the house wall.
Going to slope the patio away from the house on a 1:60 slope.
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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Fuck me it's hard working digging out. I have about a meter by 2 meters left to dig out. It's over a foot down at the garden end. I've just about filled a 2yard skip. Pics to follow
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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i feel your pain. been digging out some dead grass patches in my garden and filled 2 recycling bins full of grass and mud and my back is killing.
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Dan
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Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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2 Recycling bins and your killing! Thats not much! i though i was in bad shape
Heres the latest stage. you can see the original perimeter i cut while awaiting the skip, and the new area.
Going to add gravel at the ends/sides of the patio 100mm wide, then the sleepers, then another 100mm gravel at the top of the sleepers, to allow easier grass cutting.
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Jake
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Registered: 24th Jan 05
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have only read the first post but use sharp sand, not building sand
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