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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:41 pm
by jonken
Hi,
I've been using this site to help me build my first ever patio for my folks (it's been a great resource - thanks to all).
My dad was going to order the MOT Type 1 bulk bag, but the local builders merchant have sent this instead (yellow stuff on the left). It appears to be a mixture of large yellow stone chips mixed with builders sand. It doesn't have the broad range of particle sizes I expected so I can't see it compacting at all.
They told him 'it's what all the contractors use'. But it has significant voids with no fines to fill them. In comparison, on the right hand side is some sub base from a hardware chain, which is more like what we expected.
My question is, can we use the yellow stuff at all, perhaps brushing a sand / cement mix into it, or are we better off just lifting it, returning it, and using proper MOT type 1?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
JK.
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:46 pm
by London Stone Paving
Looks like proper type 1 to me. Have you tried whacking it yet?
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:12 pm
by jonken
Thanks for the reply. So the yellow stuff us actually MOT Type 1?
I've tried whacking it / tamping it down with a heavy sledgehammer head (didn't have enough in the budget for a whacker).
I'm having trouble deciding if it's actually tamping down or the stones are just flying off all over!
Cheers
JK.
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:08 pm
by lutonlagerlout
looks very much like 20mm cotswold chippings
why they would send you this when its double the price of MOT type 1 is beyond me
for a proper job you really need to invest in a wacker plate for a day
about £25 hire will pay you back in spades
you can use it as subbase but they are fibbing to you
LLL
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:27 pm
by jonken
Thanks LLL.
So that's one for using it and one against....I'm more confused than ever now.
I'm leaning toward lifting it and buying more of the stuff on the right to replace it. But my Dad paid in cash and I'm not sure how the hell we'd get rid of this yellow stuff (it's in a huge grab bag on the drive).
I've looked in to the whacker plate and will get one for next weekend. This jobs ground to a halt now - I expected to be laying the flags today.
Cheers
JK.
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:36 pm
by rimexboy
The way I read the posts is 2 to use it and they are the professionals 
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:21 pm
by Kuts
Looks like dolomite, will be OK for a patio I'd say.
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:37 pm
by Al Jardin
I've had limestone type 1 like that before. Whacked down better than the granite pink stuff. Hire a a small roller or large whacker. Looks like there should be more fines in it though.
Al
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:11 pm
by rab1
You only get grey granite up here.
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:50 pm
by msh paving
type 1 is type 1, as long as it has cirtificate and is from a approved lab,
its all down to sizing, pink /gray granite or crussed concrete it all has the same sizing to dust MSH 
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:28 am
by jonken
msh paving wrote:type 1 is type 1, as long as it has cirtificate and is from a approved lab,
its all down to sizing, pink /gray granite or crussed concrete it all has the same sizing to dust MSH
Thanks, but that's exactly my point. They delivered this stuff instead of MOT Type 1. They said they didn't have MOT type 1 but sent this instead because it's what all the contractors use.
It does not have a a distribution of particle sizes. It's just large chippings with no fines.
Anyway, thanks for all replies. I'm lumbered with it now so the plan is:
Add some fines in the form of sharp sand and wash it in, in the hope that it will fill the voids.
Hire a whacker and tamp it down best I can.
Lay the dry mix over the top and hope for the best.
It's a light traffic domestic patio so hopefully it'll be okay.
Key learning point is to make the call myself next time!
Cheers
JK.
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:28 am
by Mikey_C
in dorset, if buying limestone type 1 you get choice of either pink or white(ish).
if you haven't emptied the bag fully yet you might find that the fines have migrated towards the bottom of the bag.
the lads are right you need a plate/roller to do the compaction.
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:21 pm
by haggistini
Should be ok for a patio I would blind it off with sharpe sand to fill voids it will be fine