Advice for an incompetant - Approx 3sqm of slabs to lay

[Mettlemickey]

Hi there,

I would really appreciate some advice on laying approx 3, maybe 4 sqm of slabs.

My slabs are approx 600 x 600 and not of uniform depth.

Its a very small area that was until recently covered in gravel. I've cleared the gravel and there is now soil with an (existing) weed fabric on top. I think i need to dig a bit deeper so that my slabs will sit just below the lawn once ive laid them on a mortar bed.

If i do this, should i add hardcore below the mortar base? If so can i use my old gravel for this?

Also, should i wacker / compress the ground after digging? Its a small area so im loathe to hire a wacker plate, is there a manual alternative i could employ in this scenario?

Many thanks
Jason

[Tony McC]

If only there was a website somwhere with just this sort of information......