Building my own patio - Patio question

[aaron]

A big thank you to those who put together the comprehensive information on this website.

I am currently half way through my own patio project. And I think I have hit a brick wall, hyperthetically that is.

Below are the details and progress made so far:

Dimensions of patio: 4700mm x 2000mm = 9.4m squared

Depth: 230mm
Rational: When I started digging, I came across loads of bricks, rubble and other waste! So I thought it best to dig it all up. This is why I dug so deep.

Sub base: 130mm
Rational: I added a good quality sub base on top from Wicks that filled to 180mm. The ground was very clayey, so when I ran a plate compactor over the top, it compressed to 130mm.

Level: 1:60
Rational: I have measured as accurately as possible using my spirit level and markers a slope going away from the house of 35mm.

Man holes: 2 Recess Covers Purchased
Rational: I wanted to get a good finish and consistent look to my patio. The recess covers are 80mm deep. I think I should have gone for the 46mm deep covers, but I have them now so will work with them.

Bed: Not yet laid.
Note: But will be using a Sharpe Sand from Wicks.

Flags: Truestone Cotsdale (approx 25mm thick)
Note: I have not yet purchased. Although, I have sourced them from my local garden centre. I also intend to lay these using the dry (on sand) technique rather than wet (on mortar).

OK that's the breakdown so far. It's has been hard work! Those DIY videos make it look so easy. One minute they are digging, then next they are laying the stones. What about the lifting of all the soil and rubble! My god I am knackered.

Anyway, I still have a depth of about 100mm left from the sub base that I just compressed to the surface of the garden. I have been doing some thinking and maths and feel that I should raise the sub base level by another 40mm. Before I lay the Bed and the flags?

This is based on the bed being 40mm and my flags being 25mm. Hopefully this will leave the flags being flush with the surface of the garden. Which I intend to relay with turf.

Question: Could I just increase the level of the bedding to 80mm? Or Would this result in the level of the patio subsiding due to the thickness of the bed?

Question: Should I also compact the bed as well?

That's as far as I have managed to get. And am a little bit stuck on whether to add more sub base and plate compact again to raise the level an additional 40mm. Or just go with a thicker bed?

If you could offer me any pointers, I would really appreciate it. I enjoy working on this project, but I want to get it right the first time!

Thanks in advance,
Aaron

I have posted a couple of images of my work so far on the following server: Photos of Patio

[rab1]

build up the sub base using type 1 and then lay on a wet (moist) mix. its easier. 80mm is to much for a bedding layer.

[aaron]

Thanks for the response ganger. I will build up the sub base and lay ith moist mix.

Cheers,
Aaron

[Tony McC]

If only everyone was as thorough!

Looks like you're doing everything right Aaron, and so the finish should be top-notch. Do as Rab suggests and build-up the sub-base to give you no more than 50mm of bed. Not only is it a better construction, it's actually cheaper!

[irishpaving]

Truestone Cotsdale, is that stonemarket stuff.... if you keep working as tidy as you are i can see a nice finish on that work area....

[rab1]

aaron, post a couple of photos when your done, always nice to see the finished article.

[aaron]

Thanks for the motivation guys. One area I am unsure of, are these recess covers.

I want to enure that I get the level of these covers to match the slope and flags. There is a samll gap about 10mm underneath them at the moment. But when I add the extra sub base around them, this will make adjusting them very difficult.

Should I:

1. use a sharpe sand under the small gap to get the level and then lay the extra sub base around?

2. use concrete under the small gap and then lay the extra sub base around?

3. use the sub base under the small gap and then lay the extra sub base around?

I think the 3rd one. As I will not be compressing the actual recess covers. But the main thing I want to achieve is the alignment of these covers to match the slope.

Thanks again for the encouraging words. Will definetly post more pics on this thread to show my progress.

Thanks,
Aaron

[aaron]

I was not sure what stonemarket was? But after looking, yes it is. I am getting the stones from Chessington garden centre: see link: http://www.chessingtongardencentre.co.uk/store....index=4

And go to page 4.

It's a really nice stone, so hope I do it justice.

Aaron

[mickg]

number 2 is the correct way

seeing as its only 10mm gap use a sharp sand and cement 3:1 mix (not to wet) under the small gap, to get the level tap the manhole cover down into the mix and then haunch in place using the same mixture, make sure you point up and remove any excess mix where the cover fits inside the frame

let this set then lay the extra sub base around the manhole covers to your desired height

[Tony McC]

Also, set the level of the recess frame approx 3-6mm lower than the paving. This helps make it even more inconspicuous once the job is finished.

[aaron]

OK Guys, I've finished!!

I ended up following the advice and I laid the recces covers in cement, and made sure that they maintained the 1:60 gradient.

I also raised the surface another 60mm with extra sub base. Had to use around 1.8tonnes of the type 1 after compression. Although, to be honest I did end up with a crack around the surface of the recces cover after I used a compactor with the extra sub base. Not a problem though, as the weight of the mortar and the stones would end up holding this together firmly.

I used a 3 to 1 wet mortar to lay the Truestone Costdale stones. This was poured per stone. It took around 3 days to do the job, as I had to cut the stones around the recess covers. I ended up breaking 3 stones in total with the grinder. Something that I never factored into the project.

Although, this was a spur of the moment project. There were allot of things not factored in! The cost could have been reduced by about 30% if I had have planned properly!

Anyway, The stones have now been laid and the gaps between have been filled. I used a cement dye and plastering sand to fill in the gaps. The dye helped balance out the colour between the stones.

Finally, I decided to level out the gaps rather than point them. I wanted to ensure that the gaps between the stones were as smooth as possible. I have a new addition to the family, and thought that little toes might scuff the edges of the stones if pointed? Still the finish looks good!

Those recess covers were a real pain! But glad I used them. The final effect looks really professional. Despite having two Inspection chambers in the middle of the patio!

I also added a French drain to the end of the patio. I was thinking of adding a clarke drain with a soke away. But thought, I would try the french drain first. The rational for this, was that the amount of sub base that I had laid, would be sufficient enough for the water not to effect the level of the patio?

That's it, job done! Thanks for all the advice from this website. I have been able to produce a patio to a high standard. Although, the amount of time and costs did creep up.

The really sad thing is? I can not stop looking at it. I did it, and I am well proud!

Here are some pics of the finished article:
- http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ccaaaac

Thanks again,
Aaron

[seanandruby]

Top job az, you should be proud mate. just one thing bothering me.....you did'nt bury the wellies, did you? I was expecting you to make a feature out of them :laugh:

[cookiewales]

very good work you can be very proud its laid to a good standard :;): ???

[mickg]

thats a very nice job Aaron, well done

[Mikey_C]

top work fella you should be very proud, you'll be able to enjoy the summer out there with your new arrival.