Cheapest material for under flags ?????

caz1965

We have a very damp back garden. It has got worse in the 10 years we have lived here. We now have a large amount of flags, which the neighbour gave us when he put block paving down.
The patio we have, has what looks like grit underneath. We will be taking up the lot, and will have in total, about 30 flags to put down.
We are not very good at DIY, but will have a go. We have a young family, so would like to get it done over a short time, and are too skint to pay someone to do it for us,
What can we put underneath, that is cheap and easy?
Do we have to cement them down?
We have a B&Q nearby and a Travis Perkins.
Thank you for any help.

economiser

If you are going to put concrete down you would need a good foundation of hardcore underneath and all in all it would be relatively expensive. If your existing patio has been reasonably stable I would suggest that a couple of inches of sharp sand would be sufficient to lay the flags on. I assume it is only going to take foot traffic.

It would be worth looking at the site https://www.pavingexpert.com

caz1965

Thank you, I will check out that website.
It is only for very light use, just the family and dogs!

Better_offin_PETES_pocket

An option for you is cinders. very cheap and do the job perfectly well as sharp sand. @ a fraction of the cost. 2" thick and if there is nothing heavy to go on them forget the concreat base. I would however brush a dry mix morter in the gaps a few times as this will stop weeds, and also if you drop ya change it wont go down the gaps. !!!!
I would try you local coal merchant before buying them from the builders yard as they only get them from the coal merchant. Down side is you might have to bag it or shovel it on a box trailer. You pay on weight. So take a varge bucket of water. they weigh you in. empty bucket They weigh you out and you have got them even cheaper. Not sure if empting a lareg container of water is against the law...!!!

Ps only avin a laff with the last part.

ormus

850kg of sharp sand is about 35 quid from wickes/TP etc.
(plus delivery? free?)
or small bags are £1.30

caz1965

CINDERS !!!
That is what we have already, and I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called!
Thank you all, now I know what to ask for,I will have no trouble getting it done.