Broken blocks - Several blocks cracked after whacking

[Al Jardin]

Hello
We're in the process of block paving a few small areas within a garden. Blocks were laid last night and whacked this morning using a belle pclx 320. Several of the blocks had cracked in half after a few passes. Could this be due to mis-handling by the supplier - the cracked blocks were loose ones not within a pack. I'm assuming the whacker is right for this type of work. No hardcore was haigher than it should have been & the blocks were 4-5mm proud after screeding. Any opinions much appreciated.

Al

[Dave_L]

How many blocks have broken?

[Al Jardin]

So far about 12.

[mickg]

who has manufactured the block ?

[Al Jardin]

Marshalls driveline 50.

[mickg]

thats very unusual seeing as your using a light weight vibrating plate, I have not broken 12 blocks in the last 5 years but that said i did break 6 on one job last year which was also Marshall's driveline 50

I can only suggest you contact your builders merchants who will hopefully get someone from Marshall's to have a look at the problem

[Al Jardin]

We have one more path to do alongside the house. The blocks for that will come from new packs. We'll see how that goes. If the wastage gets eaten up I'll complain.

Many thanks.

Al

[lutonlagerlout]

how much sand have you got in your bedding layer Al?
normally the only time they crack is if there is a loose MOT stone high in the sand,if that makes sense
LLL

[mickg]

or it can be a hairline crack in the block, it happens sometimes when your moving them they just fall into 2 pieces and it could be you was unlucky to of laid them and then the crack appeared

the blocks I laid looked fine after they had been sanded and compacted but a few weeks later once the rain has settled the sand the hairline cracks are visible

just remove the broken blocks and replace them

[Al Jardin]

These blocks were very obviously cracked once the whacker was out of the way. Now have the removal technique down to a T. Must have been damaged during transport as they were the loose ones. No other obvious reason.

Al