Whacking awkward areas - Up a slope

[STEVECUMMINGS]

Could you offer any assistance when to trying to lightly compact bedding sand which is on a 70mm gradient over 1200mm .
Even on its lowest setting the whacker is too powerful and the sand goes everywhere - Is it ok to dampen the sand then whack , then quickly screed.

[matt h]

if your subbase isnt compacted correctly, your sand will wander. Suggest you run wacker over sub base a bit longer now the weather is getting drier and then try again with the sand:) how deep is your screed? what is it going to take in the way of weight?

[STEVECUMMINGS]

Thanks for the response .

My sub base is at least 4" thick .
I intend to use the problematic area to drive a car up .
The rest of the job is fine as it is within the normal slope guidelines , its just this larger slope that is causing me grief .

[matt h]

get the subbase right and the rest will follow suit. I t is better to spend more passes with the plate than to give up early, Once the bed is compacted the slope will be pretty much plain sailing

[Tony McC]

If the sand is 'blowing everywhere', it is too dry and should be dampened.

A laying course is supposed to have an optimal moisture content of 8-13% water. At this time of year (in normal years) there is a problem with laying course materuial becoming overly dry, which is why you sopmetomes see mpiles of sand sheeted over with a tarpaulin, in an attempt to retain some of the mositure.

Use a hose to saturate your stockpile and then leave it for a couple or three hours to 'drain' and it should be fine.