Dry-spreading sand/cement as alternative to Slablayer

davemorton

Davesnave wrote: »

And if it does work, would the OP expect to make a profit ? :huh:

Hmm yes, a typo/mistake. I meant break
(Better late than never)

downhillfast

You haven't actually mentioned what type of slabs you are planning to lay?
I had some cowboy builders lay my beautiful rainbow sandstone paving using a dry mix... and 3 weeks later it was still dry underneath when I lifted one to see why it didn't feel stable! A quick google of 'how to lay sandstone paving' revealed that a dry mix should never be used as the paving is so porous and absorbs so much of the ground moisture when laid!
A second-hand cement mixer later and much sweating and swearing I did it myself properly! (and then sold the cement mixer for £20 more than I paid for it!)

IM

vixen_vg wrote: »

I'm looking at doing something similar and like you looked at the Wickes products.
Be interested to hear how your project turned out ... i realise it was last year.
i calculated that if we were laying the full patio on this pre mix we'd be spending around £90 + if I used the wickes Slab layer.
think I'm just bogged down with info and calculations now, and prob we just need to crack on.
Dab and Go method I think , but I'm sure someone will disagree !
Love to hear how your project turned out.

V .

Well...

How can I say this....

Absolutely no progress has been made - I'm still staring out at levelled hardcore (albeit now with weeds...).

Unfortunately I've had an more pressing project - our en suite walk-in shower was leaking, causing dampness downstairs.

I'm still mid strip-out and in the process of summoning up the energy to finish it, before re-doing everything.

Am studiously ignoring the garden, and pretending it's all sorted - planting pots and having BBQs despite the 'rugged' conditions underfoot....

Next year. Definitely next year.

willjb

I can’t claim to be anything better than a glorified DIYer, but you might want to have a look at buying say a bulk bag of ballast, and some cement. It’s a mix of sand and small aggregate, which is probably the closest thing to slab layer. And of course much cheaper.

FreeBear

Seeing as the OP originally started this thread back in Mat 2018 and updated us in July last year, he might have completed the job by now.... If not, for some 55m² of slabs, it is going to get expensive using bulk bags - I would recommend looking for sand (or ballast) by the tonne and loose. Local supplier can do sharp sand at £25+VAT per tonne compared to £41+VAT from somewhere like Buildbase. Bulk bag would only be around 800Kg, so works out quite a bit more expensive.

Doing a patio base myself next month (50m²), and will definitely be getting sand and aggregates delivered loose & by the tonne.

stuart45

I remember when aggregates were always delivered on a tipper. You often found the building sand was full of stones if the driver had a previous delivery of ballast and didn't bother to sweep out the truck.