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building patio step

2

Comments

  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,278 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you got any slabs left , you could cut and lay them as usual in the gap?
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Dan-Dan wrote: »
    Have you got any slabs left , you could cut and lay them as usual in the gap?

    no I don't, plus can't really be doing with cutting slabs
  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,278 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Well i would just prepare the sub base as you did for the patio and pour and level concrete on the top
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    edited 24 April 2015 at 2:17PM
    Dan-Dan wrote: »
    Well i would just prepare the sub base as you did for the patio and pour and level concrete on the top

    what mix would you use? I have loads of sharp sand and cement left. Do I need some other aggregate as well? slightly confused as to the difference between mortar and concrete. Can't I just mix sharp sand and cement in a wet mix and pour it in?
  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,278 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    you need some gravel as well to make cement , otherwise you will just have mortar
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Dan-Dan wrote: »
    you need some gravel as well to make cement , otherwise you will just have mortar

    OK, but the gap I'm trying to make into a solid base is already filled with gravel. Why can't I just take some of the gravel out, whack some mortar on top - or even mix with the gravel - and then after its dried lay the bricks on that? Surely that will be solid?

    Sorry if I'm being thick!
  • amerste
    amerste Posts: 182 Forumite
    Scrape out the shingle the width of your door/step, you should need only about 8cm depth. Mix 1 part cement to 5 ballast, fill to level of slabs. Just so long as this finish is below DPC everything should be good. Try and get a slight fall on your step away from the doorway.
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    amerste wrote: »
    Scrape out the shingle the width of your door/step, you should need only about 8cm depth. Mix 1 part cement to 5 ballast, fill to level of slabs. Just so long as this finish is below DPC everything should be good. Try and get a slight fall on your step away from the doorway.

    Thanks. Can I use any sharp sand in place of ballast? as I have a load left over.
  • Ruski
    Ruski Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    Mix the gravel you take out with the sharp and it will be good enough for this job.

    HTH

    Russ
    Perfection takes time: don't expect miracles in a day :D
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Ruski wrote: »
    Mix the gravel you take out with the sharp and it will be good enough for this job.

    HTH

    Russ

    Brilliant. This is exactly what I wanted to hear.
    Thanks very much
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