The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:02 pm**

A little advice for a DIY'er of you please!
I'm doing a bog standard patio in the garden and am at the stage were I need to order in some sub-base and sharp sand.

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but is Wickes DTP1 a decent product, or am I better off going to Jewsons or Terry Howells?

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Aggrega....5

I'll try and justify my stupid question with an analogy. If my aunty asked me where she should buy a new computer, I'd tell her to stay the hell away from PC world.

Secondly, the patio is going to be just under 9 square meters, and the calculator:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/calcsubb.htm
tells me I want 1.3T for 75mm coverage.

How heavy are these bulk bags? I can't actually find anywhere that specified the weight, so I don't know how many I want to order. I'm guessing they are going to be around 1T? If so, what would be the best way to make up the 0.3T deficit?

Third question: is it ok to compact sub-base with something like this:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Builders-Tools/Contractors-Rammer/invt/500718
If I can avoid hiring something petrol powered, it would be a bonus

Cheers in advance.

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:37 pm**

the wickes sub base is about 850kg so you would need 2 bulk bags. the rammer is something im thinking of getting too, i'd imagine it would take a while to compact large areas but then again you don't have to fork out money to hire a whacker

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:23 pm**

If the Wickes stuff is marked as DTp1, then it must be DTp1, which means it's no better or worse than the DTp1 from anywhere else.

The bulk bags are reckoned to hold around 700-850kg

The punnel (what they call a rammer) - do you want bulging biceps? Have you got a couple of hours to spare doing nothing put thumping the sub-base with a heavy punnel? Are you a masochist? If the answer to any of these questions, then the over-priced punnel is your answer, but if you're a mere mortal, rent a plate compactor for 35 quid and you'll still be able to move your arms the next day.

Posted: **Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:46 pm**

I hired a wacker the other week and it was only Â£25 for the day (I ended up having it for the weekend as HSS was shut on the Sunday depends what price you put on pain!!

Posted: **Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:21 pm**

Thanks all.
Tony, I didn't realise that punnel would be such hard work, so I'll take your (and ange's) recommendation and hire a plate. Cheers

Posted: **Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:24 pm**

Take it from me, a whomper/punnel whatever you call it is damn hand wrist-aching hard work. Avoid at all costs.

Posted: **Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:28 pm**

Yeah - avoid at all costs: there are much better ways to make your wrist ache. Laying blocks, for a start!

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:18 pm**

Another first timers question:
What's the easiest way to mix the 10:1 bedding layer? In a barrow? On the floor?

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:01 pm**

in a mixer.

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:09 pm**

i love that answer haha but if you haven't got a mixer or can't hire one do it on a flat board on the floor. its a lot easier than mixing in a barrow, but still try and get a mixer.

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:49 pm**

Should have seen that one coming.

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:06 pm**

benjd wrote:Should have seen that one coming.

You've got to learn to duck on this site benjd

welcome aboard.
an old piece of ply, or on a hardstanding, is best way to mix. barrow mixing is hard graft.

Posted: **Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:10 pm**

seanandruby wrote:
benjd wrote:Should have seen that one coming.

You've got to learn to duck on this site benjd welcome aboard.
an old piece of ply, or on a hardstanding, is best way to mix. barrow mixing is hard graft.

Thanks.
I've just rang a friend who I thought owned a mixer, and he said it's mine which ever weekend I want it. Sorted.

The Brew Cabin

Help a diy'er