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Wobbly paving Brick

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tony3619
tony3619 Posts: 410 Forumite
Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
Hello 

Notice 2 of the brick paving I have are loose. Think I need to compact more sand underneath but cant get this brick out? Any idea? Don't want to disturb it too much. 

Comments

  • Ectophile
    Ectophile Posts: 7,975 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    My approach when trying to remove block paving is to find the one with the biggest gaps, then keep wiggling it and prying it up with whatever garden tools come to hand.  Eventually you sould be able to lift it up enough to grab it.  Once one is out, then neighbouring ones are easy.
    Then pack sand (and possibly small gravel as well) underneath and drop the blocks back in.  Those gaps look quite large, so dry paving sand may tend to wash away.
    If it sticks, force it.
    If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.
  • Hi,
    can you get knife or blade of screwdriver down adjacent sides to get a grip?
  • tony3619
    tony3619 Posts: 410 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ectophile said:
    My approach when trying to remove block paving is to find the one with the biggest gaps, then keep wiggling it and prying it up with whatever garden tools come to hand.  Eventually you sould be able to lift it up enough to grab it.  Once one is out, then neighbouring ones are easy.
    Then pack sand (and possibly small gravel as well) underneath and drop the blocks back in.  Those gaps look quite large, so dry paving sand may tend to wash away.
    I have half a bag of building sand in the shed and this area is under some shelter so rarely gets wet. Would that work?
  • Eldi_Dos
    Eldi_Dos Posts: 2,130 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Cheese knife would come in handy for what you are trying to do, just don't get caught using it.
  • Nobbie1967
    Nobbie1967 Posts: 1,666 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Get a piece of thickish wire like from a coat hanger and put a 90 degree bend in the end with a pair of pliers, or just hammer it around a suitable corner somewhere. Push in the side and then rotate. You should then be able to pull it up. Might need one at each end to bring it up level.
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 18,206 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Get a piece of thickish wire like from a coat hanger and put a 90 degree bend in the end with a pair of pliers, or just hammer it around a suitable corner somewhere. Push in the side and then rotate. You should then be able to pull it up. Might need one at each end to bring it up level.
    I have a pair of old wire tent pegs that I've used for lifting paving blocks. Coat hanger wire may well be too thin...
    The loose blocks appear to butt up against a plastic linear drain - I suspect they should have been laid on a bed of concrete rather than just sand.

    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
  • tony3619
    tony3619 Posts: 410 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 6 October 2023 at 2:18PM
    FreeBear said:
    Get a piece of thickish wire like from a coat hanger and put a 90 degree bend in the end with a pair of pliers, or just hammer it around a suitable corner somewhere. Push in the side and then rotate. You should then be able to pull it up. Might need one at each end to bring it up level.
    I have a pair of old wire tent pegs that I've used for lifting paving blocks. Coat hanger wire may well be too thin...
    The loose blocks appear to butt up against a plastic linear drain - I suspect they should have been laid on a bed of concrete rather than just sand.

    So do you think the sand has come away from the edge near the drain over time and dropped that side?  Redoing the Sand would correct it short term I'm guessing?
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 18,206 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Putting a bit more sand underneath the block should be fine assuming it is not sitting on a bed of concrete.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
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