Advice please? Can you lay Indian sandstone on solid concrete with sand inbetween?

Hyacinth2_2

Mickey666 said:

Hyacinth2_2 said:

Thanks everyone. @Mickey666 I want the concrete out but they're wanting to slab on top with wet base, sand and cement (I've checked they are putting down a full bed not just spots) They are also worried about the drains and damaging them. See picture.
Eco drains/ aco drains are like guttering with a metal grid on the top. 

Of course they do, because it's easier for them and they'll be long gone by the time you have any damp issues if they compromise the DPC.

Ah, linear drains.  Well they might help, but they'll still block ventilation up to the level of wall they cover, which is an important aspect of the damp protection, and there's still the issue of rainfall splashing above the DPC because fo the raised level.  Perhaps not as bad as solid paving but still not ideal.

I'm not sure what you want me to say.  Fact is that raising the outside ground level WILL increase the risk of future damp issues.  No one can say for sure what will or won't happen but there are very good and proven reasons why ground levels should be at least 150mm  BELOW the DPC level.

All I can really say is that I wouldn't do it if it was my house.

I guess the question is would you let the pavers pave over the concrete. You said you wouldn't let them at your house so that's a good answer to me. Thank you. You've given me plenty of info and food for thought. At least I know my gut feeling was right. 

TELLIT01

These are all problems for the contractor to resolve.  If they didn't take the drains into account, and the manhole cover should have given them a hint, that's not the OP's problem.

Rosa_Damascena

TELLIT01 said:

These are all problems for the contractor to resolve.  If they didn't take the drains into account, and the manhole cover should have given them a hint, that's not the OP's problem.

I think the OP has a good insight into her contractors commitment to the quality and longevity of the work.

stuart45

Looking at the drains again, they could well be vitrified clay rather than salt glazed. Something like Hepsleeve which have flexible joints and are laid and covered in pea shingle. This would make the concrete removal a lot safer.