Laying paving slabs.

Florenceem

I have a small garden - part patio with concrete square paving stones/slabs. I would like to put the same sort of stones/slab on the dirt area of the garden.
My neighbour told me I would have to level the dirt and use sharp sand. Would I need to use cement and is there videos/help online?
I can't really afford to pay out for the work to be done - is it a DIY job please? I am an active 62 year old.

Florenceem

Thanks - I have never laid paving slabs. Can I not just level the dirt and tread it down then put some sand and lay the slabs? I am really after getting rid of the dirt area so I can swill down the paved area when the dog has done her business.

Florenceem

Portly_Pig wrote: »

You could but don't expect it to last.

I don't have a wide alley for bringing in tools. Can I do a compacted stone base easily?

Rovver125

A sand and cement bed will last the test of time much better if done properly. I laid a 30m long path two slabs wide in my parents garden 5 years ago. In that time I have only had to re-bed 2 slabs for them which came loose during the really cold weather a couple of years ago.

In contrast, slabbed areas they laid in other parts of the garden on just a compacted sand and soil bed have required yearly maintenace to keep them looking half decent.

If the garden is relatively small, a narrow alley won't prevent you doing this, it will just require a little more leg work getting the materials and equipment you require in.

There's loads of tutorials online nowadays, check some out and it should give you a better idea if you could diy it.

aggypanthus

We have heavy clay soil. We laid a sand base with slabs on top, basic riven style from B and Q .It has so far lasted 10 yrs with no problems at all. This is for a large patio area.
OH said that if the slabs are bigger, then use a sand/ cement mix.

aggypanthus

Rovver125 wrote: »

A sand and cement bed will last the test of time much better if done properly. I laid a 30m long path two slabs wide in my parents garden 5 years ago. In that time I have only had to re-bed 2 slabs for them which came loose during the really cold weather a couple of years ago.

In contrast, slabbed areas they laid in other parts of the garden on just a compacted sand and soil bed have required yearly maintenace to keep them looking half decent.

If the garden is relatively small, a narrow alley won't prevent you doing this, it will just require a little more leg work getting the materials and equipment you require in.



There's loads of tutorials online nowadays, check some out and it should give you a better idea if you could diy it.

what do you mean by yearly maintenance? We just do a clean and weed.

ian103

go to a diy shed and try lifting a 400x400x32 or 450x450x32 slab, theyre the easiest i've found to use. i wouldn't recommend laying on the compact spoil (should be 100mm of hardcore, then a sand bed) but i have done in the past and it was ok and it stood the test of time as it only had light foot traffic