Raised patio with metal railings around it

[mousiemouth]

Hi again, More advice needed please. My existing raised patio is about 3 feet above ground, joined to the house. The slabs had started to look tatty and in some parts had caved in and the mortar joints had gone. So I'm going to replace it with Bradstone Panache slabs. The problem is the railings that surround it fixed into the bricks below. Will the builders be able to cut 'slots' in the slabs and fill in the bits afterwards, or do I have to get the railings removed and then put on afterwards?

 

[JohnD]

yes, angle grinder, or big disk cutter.

but what is underneath that has subsided or broken?

 

[mousiemouth]

The top slabs are off now and underneath is a bed of mortar? / cement?
Under that it seems to be sand. The mortar in the bricks one layer below the patio has deteriorated and needs replaced...is that because water was getting in do you think?

 

[r896neo]

any decent paver should be able to get a neat enough cut around railing feet.