Hardcore for Patio

[chilluk]

I've got 6 tonnes of type 1 MOT (look at me with all the lingo) arriving this week and just wanted some tips on best ways to get a good base.

I'm planning about 4 inches thick compacted - now should I whack it all in, and then compact, or compact in layers? (2 inches at a time maybe)

For getting levels I was planning on putting pegs in the ground, hammered down to the appropriate level and coming up to them - any better ideas? (although I guess running over them with whacker might be an issue!!)

On a slightly diff note (didn't want to make 2 posts) - I will be building a retaining wall in new pressure treated softwood sleepers - anything I should/could treat bottom/backs with to prolong life?

Cheers.

 

[Thermo]

laying it in one go at that depth will be fine. You could use pegs, although theres no need to be absolutly exact, so you can do it by eye, and rake it level.

No real need to do anything extra to the sleepers as they are pressure treated.

 

[chilluk]

Thanks Thermo - you should start charging for your advice (after this last question)!!

The slabs I am laying are 600x600 (90 of them) and I don't want a visible joint because the style of the slabs is very modern - sharp and square. Whats the best way to approach laying them - simply a strip at a time working off the house as my baseline?

Should I attempt to just leave a mm or two between the slabs?

Have a mixer hired for weekend - how many should I mix up for in one batch bearing in mind I might be fiddling around a lot more than a pro?!!

Cheers.

 

[Thermo]

depends on the type of slab you are laying. Some manufacturers do not recomend that their slabs are butt jointed. its dependent on the slab. if you are going to leave a mm or two then fill the joints with kiln dried sand after.

just mix up a mixer load at a time. It will happily sit and wait for you. Once you get the hang youll get faster anyway.

baselines can be a bit of a pain as very few things in a garden are square, so it depends where you will view the patio from. ie we did a job recently were if we had gone off of the house, when you sat in the conseravtory (which had the main view) the patio would have looked out of line. Bear in mind that if you are starting from the house you dont want to end up with any cuts at the otherside as you will see these, so you will want a full slab there. use a string line or a long length of timber to keep them straight. Dont get drawn in to working too close to them. You get very critical from a few inches away and not any slight imperfections etc. Occasionally view it standing up and stand bak to get a true view.

Thats £150+ vat please