Relaying paving slabs

twopenny

Newish home not been lived in or maintained for 20yrs and the slabs are all slightly misaligned making trip hazzards. Also ant infestation had to be dealt with so I had to lift a lot to destroy the runs.

Initially I got sharp sand/grit sand to just get them level because there is no heavy traffic on them. Then thought if I don't want to be doing it again so perhaps I should use something more substantial.

My thought was ready mix concrete but the builders merchants said mortar would do the trick. I am unsure that mortar would be tough enough for the job and too soft re ants, moisture, wear and tear.

I'd welcome opinions...............also any other tips. 70yr old lady with crowbar going it alone as no tradesman seems to want to do it and I'm pretty good at diy but not as strong as I was.

grumbler

If the base is lose, you'll need huge amount of concrete.

If, after many years, the base is compacted and is unlikely so subside more, just add some cement to the sand and use dry mix. Not sure about proportion, something like 7:1.

twopenny

Excellent! Thank you Grumbler.

Yes, the base is solid. Years of compaction and some of the original base.

That sounds effective, simple and also I can do just a few at a time. I was dreading mixing cement and trying to work fast enough before it went off in the bucket. Can still do jobs but slower and with some ingenuity.

By dry mix is that just the powdered ready mix cement?

grumbler

I mean sand+cement. Both dry. Sand can be a little wet.

At Wickes I see ,but for the same price you can get a bag of cement and mix yourself.

They say "Just level ground pour out Slablayer and sprinkle with water.", but I think you can do without water. Natural moisture will do the job.

twopenny

We don't have Slablayer at Travis Perkins or Jewsons but I'll check CBS which delivers free so they'd lift it in place for me. A Wicks is a 50 mile round trip.

Yes, I wasn't happy with the recommendation for mortar as the moisture in the air and ground could make it brittle which happened when I've used it before for anything other then walls on dry days.

But yes, I can see what you mean about the dry mix. The grit sand is very damp. I'll lay it out during this sunny spell to drive some moisture off. Can't go anywhere this weekend it's too busy with the sunshine so I have time to be fussy with this stuff.

Thanks again, it's much appreciated. I feel confident now which makes it more satisfying doing a tedious job

FreeBear

grumbler said: just add some cement to the sand and use dry mix. Not sure about proportion, something like 7:1.

Would get away with an 8:1 mix, or even 10:1. Wouldn't worry about using dry sand - The cement needs a bit of water to set. Chances are, the slabs were laid on four or five dollops of mortar. They used to do that sort of thing 20 years ago. Now a days, slabs should be laid on a full bed of mortar.

One tip for mixing sand & cement in a wheelbarrow - Use a garden rake and stir the mix up until it is an even colour throughout. A spade is handy for turning the stuff collected down the side.

twopenny

Great! I can't remember what was under the slabs I lifted other than ant nests but many have parted from the cement . That's something else to investigate and will do shortly when I'm ready to go.

None of the drains are set straight and some pavers have been cut and set to the odd angle of the drains so it will be a jigsaw to get the pavers to look straight. As long as they are no longer a trip hazzard is the main thing.

The guy who's going to paint the bungalow next week said he would help tho I'll have to buy and deliver the mix, so with this information and he seems to have the same theory too, things look promising. As long as he doen't get another job.

Not sure about using the wheelbarrow. Having a tiny place now I swapped my builders barrow for a posh purple one. I'll find something. Maybe line it with polythene for the mixing.

-taff

Or just aquire a large flat piece of ply/board and mix on that, get rid when finished.

GDB2222

I had to relay some York stone slabs. I just levelled with sand, sprinkled some cement on top, put the slabs back. It then rained, soI didn’t need to water it. I think that’s how it was done originally, and that path has lasted 70 years. I only had to level it because of a tree.

RainbowsInTheSpray

I have a related problem in one place where some of my patio slabs (45cm sq) have sunk. IF I could find some way of lifting these without breaking them or those around them, I could easily put more sand/cement underneath and then re-lay, thus evening out the whole thing. 

Can I find any advice - youtube etc. as to how this can be done? I can not. Everyone fights shy of the issue. Baby slabs, block paving, yes. Heavier slabs, no. A thundering silence. Plenty of smug advice about how to break them up with sledge hammers....

Any help, anyone? At my wits end.

stuart45

You should be able to cut out the joints and lever them out.