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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:48 pm
by the chod
i have a very small lawn in my small garden at my new build house . i have dug out the lawn, roots and all.as i want to replace with slabs of paving.
now i know that when the house was constructed the lawn was laid down from rolls.
so i am sure that the lawn was laid down onto sand and under that a sub base .all professionaly done.
my question is; since i have dug out the lawn , what is left is just the compost,and under the compost is the layer of sand and then sub base .
can i just lay the paving slabs ontop of the compost since there is the layer of sand under that?
i plan to just to fill the gaps between the slabs with gravel/pebbles/aggregate.
i will just have a table and chairs on top of slabs .
is this ok to do?
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:01 am
by lutonlagerlout
the chod wrote:i have a very small lawn in my small garden at my new build house . i have dug out the lawn, roots and all.as i want to replace with slabs of paving.
now i know that when the house was constructed the lawn was laid down from rolls.
so i am sure that the lawn was laid down onto sand and under that a sub base .all professionaly done.
my question is; since i have dug out the lawn , what is left is just the compost,and under the compost is the layer of sand and then sub base .
can i just lay the paving slabs ontop of the compost since there is the layer of sand under that?
i plan to just to fill the gaps between the slabs with gravel/pebbles/aggregate.
i will just have a table and chairs on top of slabs .
is this ok to do?
No,No,No,No
it sounds like you have been drinking mate
go back read the main site and do what it says in "laying flags"
LLL
???
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:00 am
by the chod
thanks.
found this in the ecxellent archives
its what i want to do;
Flags over a lawn - Chris Glass - Nov 14th 2003
We are deliberating in creating a semi permanent area in the garden (lawn) and lay concrete flags in an area of approx 4mx4m. At the moment it is established lawn, however the area is to be used as a kennel with a run for a couple of dogs.
I don't want to make anything too permanent ie bedding it in with mortar, but would appreciate any suggestions. Ideally I would like to put some sand over the grass and lay the slabs, and secure the edges somehow.
Many thanks - Chris
Tony McCormack - Dec 5th 2003
You have to get rid of the grass, even if it's a temporary area of paving. If you were to go ahead and lay directly over the turf, the buried grass would degrade and decompose in a matter of weeks, leading to settlement of the paving.
Best to skim off the turf, take out 50mm or so of the topsoil and then lay the flags as described on the main site. If you wanted to protect the soil, you could lay a separation membrane over the exposed area before placing the beding material, but, if you use a good, clean, grit sand, the soil won't suffer if you miss out the membrane.
You can store any excavated topsoil, just in case you do decide to re-lay the grass, but as for the turf itself, that is best stacked and left to rot down to what gardeners know as a 'good tilth', that is, a fine, high-quality soil that is ideal for all garden tasks. You'll have to buy new turf, or to seed the area, if you choose to revert to lawn.
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:04 pm
by Rich H
Lawns aren't laid on sand, and don't have a sub-base. There is also no compost involved.
When a developer lays a lawn for a new build, they skim off the rubble and waste, etc., down about 100mm from the finished lawn height, lay down some crappy soil from a waste disposal co. and then put the cheapest possible rolls of turf on top.
If you can see sand and hardcore now that you've dug out the soil, it's just what was there before the turf was laid.
If there is fine soil, it's probably what was attached to the bottom of the turfs from when they were harvested.
The good news is that the rubbish that builders leave behind makes for a pretty solid base, so you can probably just lay the slabs using a 10:1 sand:cement mix.
As LLL says, have a look at the 'laying flags' section on the main website for more information on how to go about it.
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:51 pm
by the chod
thanks for all the help.
rich h, is it ok to just use builders sand and then put the slabs ontop?
and i was going to put weedbarrier cloth over the top soil then the sand ,then the slabs.with pebbles in between the gaps??
thanks again for helping a complete novice .....but willing to learn
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:16 am
by Suggers
As LLL says, have a look at the 'laying flags' section on the main website for more information on how to go about it.
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:45 am
by Rich H
the chod, you will benefit hugely from reading this:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/layflag1.htm
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 12:31 pm
by Tony McC
Has he gone? I was almost at "slapping point" with that nonsense!
The first post struck me as a potential wind up: if he knew the term "sub-base" how come he failed to understand that there couldn't be such a thing beneath a lawn?
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:54 pm
by seanandruby
i reckon the cod wants a multi purpose garden that changes with the seasons, i e... turf in the summer, flags in the winter. i reckon he was right upset when you told him the stacked turf would compost :laugh: i'll hold him for you while you slap him. 
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:27 am
by the chod
rich h has the only constructive thing to say on here.......
thanks rich h!
its easy when your an expert in your field of work or hobby.
although, this is an excellent site, and congratulations to whoever thought of it and constructed it.very well put together .
now end this thread
laters!
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 1:16 pm
by lutonlagerlout
cant we end newbies not reading a single word on the main site then asking inane questions?
we are all up for helping folk,but mainly those who help themselves
:;): LLL
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:12 pm
by the chod
thats the whole point of forums?
if people are fed up of newbies ,then dont answer the thread!
and then there wont be any forum
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:20 pm
by Suggers
Hey chod - strikes me you're about upsetting any forum you choose. Am not sure you have any serious intent to replace your sod by pavement. If you have ; you've blown it...
If you haven't - then I stick two fingers in your general direction.
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:31 pm
by Dave_L
Sugs ~ never one to mince his words!!! 
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:46 pm
by Suggers
Dave - believe it or not, I am a pussycat.