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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:00 am
by Dermo
Hi
I've just had a patio dry installed with Indian Sandstone slabs and now wish I'd trusted myself to do it as the tradesman I hired did a patchy job (being polite here). So, I want to try a few correctional tweaks with the border I had him do with country cobble. The cobbles are cemented from below and to each other. Unfortunately, they just ain't level (some of them are ok).
Can anyone suggest how I should go about taking out the offending cobs (without damaging my beloved slabs) and re-cementing them? I'm thinking careful application of cold chisel and lump hammer....? Would appreciate any advice.
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:55 am
by Suggers
What's a dry installation ? No comprende...
I'd chop the offending cobbles out double quick, while the mortar's still green, and re-seat. Is there a footing for the border ?
Nothing wrong with a hammer & bolster - don't forget to wear some glasses. (Spent a morning in A&E last year, 'co I couldn't be arsed to wear them! ) 
ps - put some photies up - all will become clearer...
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 5:42 am
by Dermo
Thanks a lot Suggers for your reply. Thasnks too for reminding me about eye protection! By dry installation I meant to say the patio's dry laid on sand. The cobbles are then edging it and are cemented. Tried posting a photo but it wouldn't work for me - will try again later when home from work.
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:38 pm
by Dermo
Suggers, I can't post a photo as my new account doesn't seem too have that privelege.
Anyhow, by footing for the border do you mean is there cement beneath the line of cobbles (I'm inexperienced with this stuff & I fear my tradesman was equally so!)? If so, then yes there is. As the tradesman filled in the border with soil (I had told him to leave that to me), I don't know if the mortar's still green but I intend to shovel that back out tomorrow. If the mortar's not still green is there any point in me tackling it or would it be better left alone (in which case I'd have to stock up with beer & pretend it's me & not the patio)?
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:45 am
by London Stone Paving
The only problem with using a hammer and chisel is that you will more than likely loosen the good cobbles (if there are any ?) while you are attempting to remove the bad cobbles.
Might be better off using an angle grinder first to remove as much as the mortar you can from around the cobbles. You will then need to carefully use the chisel and bolster to remove them alltogether.
Anyway if you do lossen a few more in the process then it is a fairly straightforward process to put them back in. Your tradesman should have known better!
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:06 am
by Suggers
London Stone make's a good point about grinder.
Whether you can live with the uneven cobbles is obviously your decision 
Shame about photos - never heard of an account denying such a basic practice?
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:03 am
by Dermo
Thanks a lot to you both for the advice. If I manage to sort out the picture posting problem I'll post a photo.