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Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:08 am
by john37
Hello, I'm new.
We need to make a patio about 12m x 5m outside the back of our world peace cafe which is being created inside a 1920/30s semi-detached house. We've had to reduce the outside soil level by about 0.5m to coincide with the (reduced) cafe level inside, and we are now down to heavy clay for the patio sub-base.
We've got tons of old bricks from the renovation work inside the house.
Is it suitable to crush the bricks and use them for the patio sub-base?
Is crushing the bricks likely to be economic?
We would have to hire a crusher, but we've got free volunteer labour (we are a registered charity) and we wouldn't need to pay to dispose of the old masonry and import new aggregate.
Grateful for any advice.
John
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:18 am
by GB_Groundworks
For 1 ton of bricks just smash them with sledge hammers wearing appropriate Ppe ie gloves and goggles. Not worth hiring a crusher for 1 tons worth. And 1 ton won't go far for your subbase
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:57 am
by lutonlagerlout
12m by 5 m is 60 M2
approx 10 tonne of crush needed
i would say well worth hiring a crusher for a day
but you need people with a bit of kop on to use it
decent DIYers or ex builders
10 tonne would cost you £250 in london
crusher roughly £150
plus you save on skip costs say £200 in london
in your situation it works john
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:58 am
by lutonlagerlout
plus it would enhance your green credentials
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:20 pm
by dig dug dan
I think giles misread the post, as he has tons of bricks, not a ton, so as tony says, it adds up
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:50 pm
by local patios and driveway
Put down the terram, lay out the brick as tidy and tight as you can, smash bricks in to halves with sledge hammer, cover with type1 mot and compact, old skool, proper job. Never fail
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:26 pm
by john37
Thank you all for your kind replies.
Can I check:
1. Are crushed bricks suitable for a patio sub-base without using any MOT type 1?
2. If so, what is the maximum brick particle/crush size? 40mm?
3. What sub-base depth entirely of crushed brick would be suitable? 100mm?
4. Is crushed brick mixed with some some crushed concrete suitable for the sub-base of a new concrete floor inside the house or do we need to use MOT type 1 here?
Many thanks
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:30 pm
by dig dug dan
To answer in order,
1.yes, and I have done this lots of times
2. 40mm would be perfect
3. Spot on. 100mm
4. Yes, yes, yes!
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:43 pm
by lutonlagerlout
^^
we have crushed on site and used for patios/drives and oversites
I prefer to crush myself than buy it in because you know what goes into it
cheers LLL 
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:08 pm
by john37
Thank you both, very helpful
Dan: on my point 4, are you saying yes we can use crushed brick or yes we need MOT type 1 for the sub-base of the concrete floor in the house?
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:16 pm
by dig dug dan
John, you can used crushed brick with crushed concrete, no need for type one.
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:31 pm
by john37
Thanks, Dan. And if we run out of the crushed concrete, would crushed brick alone be ok for the house provided it is clean?
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:37 pm
by dig dug dan
Absolutely. Better than the crushed you buy off builders merchants these days! Full of soil, metal, cement bags and timber
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:41 pm
by john37
Great, thanks a lot
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 9:50 pm
by lutonlagerlout
type 1 is a grade not an aggregate
I believe it is 40mm down to fines
whatever you do do not buy crush in,they promise you the earth ,then that is what they send
EARTH mixed with crap
cheers LLL