Loose patio slabs

Patio flagstones (slabs), concrete flags, stone flags including yorkstone and imported flagstones.
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Inderpal
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:02 pm
Location: London

Post: # 116858Post Inderpal

Hello everyone need some advice

I had paving slabs laid in my garden about two months ago and since I have had non stop issues.

The builders done a base type 1 base didn't use a Wacker plate and laid the slabs on sand and filled the gaps in with sharp sand

Since the slabs have been laid a lot of them are loose and rocking when walked on. When I call him to fix this all he does is brush out the sharp sand in the gap and put cement in the gap. This does stop the slabs from rocking but surely just a tempoary fix ???

Why would the slabs be loose it's only been two
months and my concern is I have hardly used the patio !
Inderpal

dig dug dan
Posts: 2504
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:20 pm
Location: hemel hempstead,herts. 01442 212315

Post: # 116859Post dig dug dan

By the sounds of your post, the job is a total cock up, laid by an incompetant.
Why wasnt a wacker plate used?
The slabs should have been laid on a full mortar bed, of sharp sand and cement mix, not soft sand, and then pointed properly using a gun injected system, resin system, or sand cement mixture trowelled in.
Also, if it is indian stone, a bond bridge should of been used.
The whole lot will have to come up and laid properly im afraid.
Dan the Crusher Man
01442 212315
www.crusherhire.co.uk
"a satisfied customer? we should have them stuffed!"

alrat
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:54 pm
Location: uk

Post: # 116860Post alrat

Definitely sounds like a poor installation I'm afraid. As the sub base wasn't wacker plated, it will move around as you use the patio, freeze thaw etc. the sub base is key and if not done properly, you'll just get problems. As DDD says the slabs should have been laid on a full mortar bed, as the slabs are laid on sand, this will also move as the loose sub base moves. Sand isn't the end of the world, some installs can work with sand especially larger formats, but would need a solid sub base and it doesn't sound like you have one.

What stone have you used? Sand retains water and it will transfer to the slabs, you could get staining and picture framing, particularly as sand is used for pointing and he keeps adding cement as this may get drawn in to porous stones.

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
Posts: 15184
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 116863Post lutonlagerlout

sadly see this a lot
as said above its nowhere near british standard and can only get worse
needs to be taken up and relaid on a full mortar bed
LLL
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Tony McC
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Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:27 pm
Location: Warrington, People's Republic of South Lancashire
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Post: # 116867Post Tony McC

It will *never* improve. The clown brushing-in more sand and throwing cement at it is wasting his time.

The only fix is to rip up the flags, set them aside, remove the sand bedding, compact, regulate and re-compact the sub-base, and then set about re-laying in accordance with the methods shown on the main website.

Anything else is just wishful thinking.
Site Agent - Pavingexpert

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