Re whacking block paving

[Mikey_C]

My block paving has been down about 18 months the blocks sit a little higher than the edge course can I run the wacker over it again to try and level it out a bit more?

[jay-Manor Driveways]

yeah put some kiln on first though to stop the waker bouncing to much

[Mikey_C]

i was going to fit the rubber mat as well, thanks for the reply.

[Tony McC]

You're unlikely to get much movement after this length of time. Just how high are the blocks? If it's more than 3-4mm, you may need to lift them, re-screed removing a scraping of sand, and the re-lay.

[Dave_L]

yeah put some kiln on first though to stop the waker bouncing to much

.........and also wear some ear protection!

[Mikey_C]

could be as much as 5-6mm in places, but there's no chance of me taking them up and re-screeding, it does bother me that much One of the blokes that came round to quote for the patio suggested giving it a whack, so i thought i would test his theory with the pros.

The bloke who laid the block's wasn't use to laying against concreted in edgings, he just put a fillet of 3:1 grit sand cement mortar against the the last block when he laid and whacked the drive he would be normal be laying.

[Tony McC]

The 'bit of mortar behind the outside blocks' is a real cowboy tactic. Please kick this eejit in the 'nads the next time you see him.

If he struggled with the concept of concrete bedded edge courses, it's a fair bet that he allowed the concrete to spread at the 'front' of the block, which causes a problem known as "differential settlement" and is a likely reason for why the blocks adjacent to the aforesaid edge courses are high. If this *is* the case, then re-wackering won't do much except damage the blocks as they are, effectively, sat on that concrete and there's nowhere for them to go.

In such cases, lift and re-lay is the only viable option.

[Bob_A]

Sorry to go off topic slightly but talking of edging courses what do you reckon of this.
I got a feeling comments won't be favourable?
http://www.screwfix.com/prods....ck-of-4

[msh paving]

Its very popular in USA, but never took off over hear as the cost is to high MSH

[Tony McC]

The price tells you all you needs to know. 21.58 quid per metre compared to what? a couple of quid for concrete?

And it's a bugger to form sweet curves using these systems.