Puzzled and could do with some advice please

[DazzaSt]

Hi All,

This is my first post so please go easy on me!

I've just finished erecting an above ground swimming pool donated by my mother in law which has taken ages due to having to lay a concrete slab. We've removed some of the lawn around the pool in advance of paving using the same blocks as in our main patio. I have around 3 metres of blocks but the area is probably more like 6m.

I want the blocks to be level with the lawn so to ease mowing problems.

We're on firm clayey London clay but could do with some advice. Are we able to lay these blocks just using mortar (no bedding layer) as it will be a very low traffic area?

Cheers
Daz

[rab1]

Use a mot base, if your looking for long term stability. If you can afford a pool do it right. The thing with paving and drives is that 70% of the cost is in the base and the finish is top dressing.

[lutonlagerlout]

^^ what rab said

when that pool is full of water there is a lot of weight

I am sure we prepped a base a few years ago and wedug out 6 inches laid 125mm of Type 1 and wacked then laid 25mm of sand for the pool to sit on
LLL

[DazzaSt]

Thankfully the pool cost me only sand and cement and a bad back and some sunburn. The pool base is up and fine so it's only the block paving around the perimeter that needs doing! If someone could teach me how to post a couple of pics I'd show you!

[Mikey_C]

how to post photos is here

new settings for photobucket are here

flexible block paving methods are here

rigid block paving is described here

[DazzaSt]

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully these 3 images will be viewable.

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The centre image shows the largest area to be block paved (to where the lawn starts) whereas the black pipe on the first image is where the blocks will end. The last image show a small area that needs to be paved.

I don't know, and this is where I need some advice, if the blocks should be at the same level as the lawn or higher. Higher would I assume be easier as there wouldn't need to be so much excavation but which would look nicer?

I also assume that the paving needs to have a slight slope to help with drainage?

Lastly, for the soldier course can these be the same blocks as the rest or what is best?

[DazzaSt]

If we mortar the blocks with sand and cement directly on to the clayey soil would that be ok due to the very low traffic area? Would obviously mortar the blocks together.

[rab1]

Short answer is no. think about the movement in the clay as it expands and contracts due to moisture and having a ridged surface wanting to move with along with it.

Dig down 150mm, lay a teram cloth type membrane and spend less than a big note on type1.