Never needed to post before, all the answers are already here! However, I could do with some advice on my weather-related problem please...
I'm laying a patio. I dug out the area, laid the MOT1 & whackered...then the heavens opened and it poured it down for hours yesterday Lots of standing water on top of the sub-base and since it is lower than the lawn it just collects there with nowhere to go.
I was hoping after 12 dry hours overnight the water would have drained away, but it hasn't!
What now?
I've a mixer & whacker rented for the Bank Holiday weekend, a rare few days free, and a second pair of hands to help me. I'd like to make the most of them if I can!
If I was to sweep/scrape the standing water to one side could I still go ahead with the mortar mix and pave?
The fact that you have already compacted the MOT is your saviour here. Assuming your totally finished with that and don't need to plate it again you should be ok.
Clear all the water off asap and then leave it to dry out for a few hours (leaf blower is good for this if you have one?) While you wait get all your flags shifted into the best location and sand and cement ready beside the mixer.
The one thing you will need to be aware of is the consistancy of the mortar as the very wet bed will have a tendancy to make it a little sloppier as soon as you tap the flag down.
r896neo wrote:The fact that you have already compacted the MOT is your saviour here. Assuming your totally finished with that and don't need to plate it again you should be ok.
Thanks for the speedy reply Simon!
I don't need to compact any more, but it rained before the MOT went down yesterday meaning compacting was generally a wet/messy job as the machine bought water to the surface. That should be OK though?
I would have liked to have plated it again fully dry, but I might be waiting a couple of weeks for that opportunity!
how many times did you managed to plate it? You would want to be giving it at least 5/6 passes. If you only gave it one or two it yesterday it would be far from ideal to pave it and only you could decide whether it was worth the risk.
We always make 8 passes no less, plus always fit a geotextile sheet to ensure a solid subbase. Did yours not go sloppy when compacting it? If it did it is questionable as to wether its compacted enough. If it were my job and i had doubts i would wait for a few dry days and wack again
Lots of standing water on top of the sub-base and since it is lower than the lawn it just collects there with nowhere to go.