Laying a garden path

edthedead

Hello everyone!

I am in the process relaying the path around the edge of our house, leveling a section of the garden and laying a new path up the garden to the back gate. I am going to be laying concrete 35mm thick Riven slabs for the path, some of which are going on top of the old (but still in good condition) concrete path (plenty of clearance for the DPC) The path will only be used by light foot traffic!

I have had a good look around on pavingexpert.com which is very useful, but I am still unsure if I need to lay a sub-base from MOT. The soil round here is pretty sandy and seem blooming solid when digging it, I am hoping to just get away with compacting it with a wacker plate rather than laying MOT. I will then lay 50mm of sharp sand, whack that and then lay on top of that...

Should that be ok?!

Any help, suggestions gratefully recieved!! :beer:

poppy_f1

depends on the traffic i would say
im planning on doing similar to you in the next few weeks as i want a path from my front garden to my back which wont be used that much and planning on just digging it out, putting sand down then the slabs and concreting them

bobhawke

If the ground is solid and it is only going to get light traffic then you won't need type MOT.
Those slabs aren't designed for just being laid on sand, if possible mix some cement through it, even if it is 10:1. When you say 50mm do you mean before or after whacking? if it is before then it should be ok, if it is after then it is too high.

edthedead

Thanks very much for the replies! Sand and cement 10:1 looks like the answer! Will a dry mix be ok?

bobhawke

Dry mix is fine, damp is better. When i say damp i mean enough water in it for the sand and cement to form a ball but not so much that water comes out when you squeeze it in your hands.

edthedead

Well, it's coming along... almost time to start laying the path! Just a couple more questions! I presume that I lay the sand and cement, then compact and level, do I then leave it to dry before laying the slabs or lay them onto the damp mixture?

This project is a bit of a learning curve!

bobhawke

Lay them on the damp mixture

edthedead

Thanks bob!