garden paving slabs moved alot in recent ice

steveo3002

most of the paving slabs in our garden have raised or lowered by up to 25mm in places due to the recent ice

is it likely they will settle down to close to normal when the ground warms up , or will i have to get them all up and re level them

steveo3002

dunno tbh ...all i know is the ice has moved them alot

mazza111

No idea if they will resettle but a lot of them around here are the same. Pain in the rear when you are a postie. In saying that, we've had snow for so long I've forgotten what a slab looks like

John_3:16

We have seen the same at work. I think it may be water in the sand or ground freezing (expanding)and lifting the slabs. Not sure if they will go back?

StonetapperBaz

If your pavers are bedded on sand or other flexible material then they will probably settle back down, if not, then they will be relatively easy to re-bed by lifting, re-levelling and re-compacting and then relaying.

If your pavers have a mortar bed then it is unlikely they will settle back down to where they were originally. The mortar typically crumbles slightly and bits that fall into the parting prevent the pavers from re-settling in their original position. The other problem is that many pavings are laid to standards that are inadequate or the bedding itself is commonly incorrectly made so that it is not frost resistant. Another issue is the use of much thinner pavers that are easier to move and break, commonly 20mm or 30mm thick when traditionally 70-150mm thick pavers were the norm.

Before you get this re-laid, if that's what you end up contemplating, make sure it is done properly this time. The relevant British Standard is BS 7533, which has 13 parts to it, with parts 7 and 12 the most relevant. Make sure your contractor works to this standard at least. Oh, and if they start mixing a bedding mortar using fine builders sand and/or a standard concrete mixer, this will certainly fail in the future. Sharper sand mixes are required and the mixing must be forced to keep the moisture as low as possible - the mixer must be of the pan type, a bit like a giant dough mixer or Moulinex.

I am just writing a short piece on this in my Q&A column in the Natural Stone Specialist magazine. One source of reasonable information is: the paving expert website (I am unable to post the link for it), though remember they are trying to sell you paving.

Good luck

diggerman123

they will never settle to original

wallbash

I will be relaying a number of slabs myself this spring. They started to move last summer , and I did about 25 . But as I am an 8 stone weakling , that was enough .

So will do another batch , when the weather improves , I only work in the garden in the sunshine!
I use Slab Mate , bought at wickes . You smooth out , to the correct depth. Looks ( because it is ) dried sand . You pat it down , play with it , until you are happy.
A little water via a watering can , place slab back.
Result a patio/path which is flat/level or gentle slope ( what ever is required)

StonetapperBaz may well be telling you how the professionals should do it .

i.e quote the mixer must be of the pan type, a bit like a giant dough mixer or Moulinex.

But if its only a few slabs , and you have a little more muscles than me . DIY
and check out slab mate.