Avoiding cowboys - Help needed

[Walton B]

Hi guys, I hope that you can help me.

My wife and I are having some paving at the bottom of our garen for a bbq area. Unfortunatly we are not in a position to be able to do the work ourselves however having had two quotes (and waiting on a third) I have been told two different ways in which they plan to prepare the base. I've looked on a few sites but am stuggling to see which is best (one is significantly cheaper). An help that anybody can give would be much appreaciated.

The area to be paved is currently part concreted over (in two separate areas, and the remainder is bare earth which was previously covered with woodchips.

The first quote proposes to breakup the whole area including the concreate and put down a new uniform base over the whole area.

The second will simply lay a new layer of concrete over the entire area.

Are both of these equally solid? I hope you will forgive the cluelessness of the question but I really want to avoid paying somebody to come and do a job which only lasts a couple of years.

Thanks in advance for any help.

WB

[jonnyboyentire]

Even if the skim over the whole lot is really deep you have an unstable substrate, which could cause the new concrete to crack.

The cheap way is not the right way to do it unless there is a load of reinforcing steel in it.

[Walton B]

Thanks Jonnyboy.

The chap who wants to skim over did come across as though he knew his stuff in every other way. This just struck me as a bit strange.

So (just to get this straight in my mind). The concrete base should be laid over as uniform a base as possible. In my case this means that all of the existing concrete should come up and a new base compacted?

[GB_Groundworks]

Think of it like this, take one pencil and sit it between two other pencils then push it in the middle it will break. Sit the pencil on the table now push on it and it'll be solid.

Rip it out and start again, I'd also read the main site here so you know what they should be doing

[Mikey_C]

what is the finish to this paving? ie on top of the concrete.

[lutonlagerlout]

if you are having the area paved then what need is there for a concrete base?
read
here for more detail
patios can be laid on a concrete base,but it is excessive and a waste of money
cheers LLL

[seanandruby]

are you sure the two pieces of comcrete are'nt covering pipes, services etc? How much is there? Might be able to dig between and place concrete base, blinding. Photo would be good.