Garden work... Using old bricks/slabs?

quaium

Just wondering if someone could give me some advice regarding some garden work we're getting down. The builders have started work on the garden, we're removing some old decking and making it in to a patio with slabs. The other end of the garden already had slabs and we're getting those replaced.

Now, it looks like the builder is using old slabs and bits of crap from breaking down the old garden to build the base of the patio... Is this normal? He hasn't used any of the decking, just concrete and oddly some tiles that were in an old shed we're also getting rid of.

Any advice would be great. Just hate building work and get stressed over everything!

littleredhen

what did you ask the builder to use for the patio and if you wanted slabs but wanted slabs can you not use the other end of the garden slabs for the new patio - what was included in the quote - clearing garden, slabs, etc

oldernonethewiser

The base of the patio?


Is the builder putting new slabs over this base?



Nothing wrong with using old stuff to build up the sub structure.

quaium

We've asked for new slabs and have chosen the new slabs but they are using broken up bits of the old patio as a base for the new patios at both ends of the garden. They are not reusing any slabs as the finished product.

oldernonethewiser

That sounds very sensible.

quaium

oldernonethewiser wrote: »

The base of the patio?


Is the builder putting new slabs over this base?



Nothing wrong with using old stuff to build up the sub structure.

Yes, I think they are going to compact it down. Cement it and then put slabs on top of that.

quaium

oldernonethewiser wrote: »

That sounds very sensible.

So so you think I'm worrying over nothing and should listen to the wife and let the builders get on with it before I have a heart attack?

FreeBear

quaium wrote: »

So so you think I'm worrying over nothing and should listen to the wife and let the builders get on with it before I have a heart attack?

Leave it to the builders - They are using the old slabs as hardcore which is perfectly acceptable - It saves on the cost of carting the old slabs away and buying in "fresh" hardcore. So stop worrying about it

One thing to watch for though - Make sure the new slabs don't breach the DPC on the house. They should be around 150mm below the DPC, and ideally, a gap of around 200mm left between the house and the slabs. The gap should be finished off with gravel.

quaium

FreeBear wrote: »

Leave it to the builders - They are using the old slabs as hardcore which is perfectly acceptable - It saves on the cost of carting the old slabs away and buying in "fresh" hardcore. So stop worrying about it

One thing to watch for though - Make sure the new slabs don't breach the DPC on the house. They should be around 150mm below the DPC, and ideally, a gap of around 200mm left between the house and the slabs. The gap should be finished off with gravel.

Thank you but what does DPC stand for? Also, why do the slabs need to be 200mm between the house?

molerat

quaium wrote: »

Thank you but what does DPC stand for?

Damp Proof Course. Depending on age of the house, a strip of plastic or roofing felt material between 2 courses of brick to stop damp from rising up from below ground level. Having the slabs above that level can cause water to soak into the brickwork causing damp.

quaium wrote: »

Also, why do the slabs need to be 200mm between the house?

To allow any water run off to soak into the gravel and drain away rather than soak into the brickwork and to stop rain from splashing off the slabs straight onto the wall.

quaium

molerat wrote: »

Damp Proof Course. Depending on age of the house, a strip of plastic or roofing felt material between 2 courses of brick to stop damp from rising up from below ground level. Having the slabs above that level can cause water to soak into the brickwork causing damp.

To allow any water run off to soak into the gravel and drain away rather than soak into the brickwork and to stop rain from splashing off the slabs straight onto the wall.

Just checked, looks the the DPC is way above the patio level. Just about done vents in the wall and the builder did say those can't be covered.

I'll ask how the rain is going to be drained, thank you for bringing that to my attention.