Laying slabs need help

[zoena]

hi everyone, I have a back garden that needs slabbing, it was part lawned but I have killed off the grass and raked it to death so its pretty much non existent and levelled the area off as best I can so far. myself and other half have never laid slabs, but are going to attempt it! I don't want to dig down, or dig up the dead lawn area etc, can we just lay over the top using membrane? what is the best method, as one 8x10ft area will have a shed on it, the rest will just be for "show" as it were.

the slabs are 600x600mm, im confused as to how to prepare the base really, we do have a friend that owns a "wacker" so that's not an issue if one is needed, so can anyone give me some tips on the easiest, least complicated but sturdy way to approach this.


many thanks in advance x

[seanandruby]

Hi zoe.
just killing off the grass won't work, it needs to be dug out and dumped otherwise the flags will sink over time. depending on how sturdy your sub soil is will determine if you'll need sub base but it is best to have sub base then your bedding layer. definetly where your shed is going you will need sub base. best done right regardless of how much work involved. Check the main index for information it is more detailed than i can type.

[zoena]

thanks for reply, the area where the slabs for the shed are going (should have put this!) is completely grass free as it had slabs just dumped on the area when we moved in so its just soil that is a bit lower than the grass area if that makes sense, so could I dig up the grass to that level then lay it all? our ground is like concrete! the soil is very clay like and solid etc.. hence why not wanting to have to dig it up lol but if we have to we will etc

[seanandruby]

A sub base isn't necessary on sound sub soil but you do need to remove all vegetation ie:grass, weeds etc:
If you can place 50/75 ml of sub base where the shed is going before slabbing that would be good. to avoid digging out the sound sub soil maybe you could raise the levels in the intended shed area ???

[lutonlagerlout]

its hard ground because it hasnt rained much
clay is normally the worst subsoil going as it tends to expand and contract due to moisture

even 75mm of subbase is better than nothing

LLL