The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon May 05, 2008 7:24 pm**

Hello all

Hope you can help - I got to page 27 of this section and couldn't find anything relevant so sorry if this is answered elsewhere...

2 Problems.
1. I have 5m2 of 'unknown' slabs
2. I want to build a patio with brick and so not to waste the 'uknowns', incorporate them.

At the mo - the garden is rubble - I have a 35m2 area to cover and have lots of hardcore type stuff and want to avoid concreting anywhere - too much hassle for me - so thought bricks and the sand, vibrating flat plate thing would be better.

These 'uknown' slabes came from relative - had a mooch on the net and they look like Marshalls Drivesett - but not sure what they're made of - they're blimmin heavy as just moved them all. Got 3 sizes and they're all 5cm thick.

So....do you think it's likely, if they're concrete slabs that I can use them and some kind of brick or replica brick paver and still use the sand/flatplate thing (sorry - not technical!) or will I have to concrete?

Sorry for rambling vagueness, have got i/net search blindness on bricks, pavers, FL/FN class, flettons, permeable, concrete, clay etc etc etc...

All help gratefully rec'd.

Thanks in advance.
Clare

Posted: **Mon May 05, 2008 9:10 pm**

your 5m2 is 30 M short of your needs clare
what are you on about the wacker and sand thing?
thats block paving
post a picture of your slabs and we will try and identify them but if you mean mixing bricks and slabs together you need a high skill level to do this
picture first then we will work from there mate
cheers LLL

Posted: **Mon May 05, 2008 11:26 pm**

Hi LLL

Know am 30m2 short but need to know whether I have to buy more of the 'unknown' or whether I can mix/match.

I'll post a pic tomorrow of said 'unknown' but the sand/whacker thing - sorry, spectacularly vague of me... I meant bed of sand (appropriate one, once know whether bricks/pavers) to bed the bricks/pavers on and then use the flat plate vibrator machine that whacks them down to compact the bricks onto the sand once laid, therefore no need to concrete.

hope that makes more sense and thanks for your reply, will do a David Bailey tomorrow.

Take it easy

Clare

Posted: **Tue May 06, 2008 10:26 am**

I think when you say bricks you are referring to blocks.

The main site has the information http://www.pavingexpert.com/blocks.htm rather than the forums.

Block paving on a sand screed is rarely a job for the DIYer. There are people who have done it from Tony's information, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

The blocks you have sound like concrete 'tegula' type, versions of which are made by all the manufacturers. They are not cheap and you may find it more cost effective to sell/give away what you've got and by something else for less that would also be easier to lay.

Posted: **Tue May 06, 2008 6:52 pm**

Aaaargh - ok - have taken picture - how do I get it on here!!?

Posted: **Tue May 06, 2008 7:38 pm**

See Tony's sticky on noticeboard - forum title page.

Posted: **Tue May 06, 2008 9:27 pm**

Ahh ok - I don't have webspace anywhere - well not that'll allow me to post pics of slabs...

Errm, ok - so when I look up bricks/brick pavers, I get an overwhelming number of options back..I like bricks, I like the effects you can get - can I just use Stock bricks or for complete novice should I just get a big picnic blanket and some plastic sheeting and give up now!?

I'll go and read some more stuff and shut up........

Thanks again.

Posted: **Thu May 08, 2008 8:19 pm**

Send the photo to me and I'll upload it for you.

The Brew Cabin

Patio - help - Brick and unknown paving slabs