Paving on top of existing paving - Paving on top of existing paving

[vader001]

Hello

I need some guidance: I'm about to embark on a project to replace the concrete slabs on the footpath which looks dated with slate slabs. I started to remove 2 of 63 concrete paving stones which are cemented to a concrete base. The 2 Concrete paving stones removed so far, require significant amounts of brute force to separate from the base (I'm a strong 6'4" guy!) even breaking them with a sledge hammer requires significant effort. I'm now considering removing all the loose material like grout, pressure washing the area down and installing the new slate paving on top of the existing concrete paving, is this a good or a bad idea?

[lutonlagerlout]

its all here
generally its a bad idea
paving on the whole always requires significant effort,its the nature of the game
cheers
LLL

[nick65]

Vader, i must concur with LLL. here. Its never wish to pave over older paving.
If your not used to this kind of work, youll find it is hard graft at the best of times. But as the old adage goes, its the first ten years thats the hardest.
Seriously though, you can always hire yourself a small breaker for the job. i.e. a beaver pack. should cost around £20/£30 for a days hire. Or if the slabs are small and thin youd probably get away with a SDS breaker if its a small area. Cost around a tenner for a days hire.

[lutonlagerlout]

i thought it was the first 50 years were the hardest nick?
:laugh:
LLL

[jojones55]

Deffinitly hire a breaker for this, or even better would be to hire a guy with a mini digger. he would use a breaker attachment to break the surface up and then move it all for you. But that would cost a lot more of course.

Going over old paving is a bad idea.