Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:53 am
I am in the process of preparing and laying a new foot traffic patio. The existing shingle has been removed, drains laid and the top surface prepared with 100mm road stone and compressed with a whacker plate. It is intended to lay a sharp sand / cement mix on top of this and then the final slabs.
The problem I have is that an area of approx 3sq meters is very sodden and remains spongy despite considerable effort with the whacker plate. As the plate was being used it was noticable that the top surface was becoming wetter and the plate was difficult to move across the surface.
The soil is clay, but this is the only area where the water is accumulating. There are no water mains on this side of the house and being in the country we are unaffected by any other property. Whilst we haven't had much rain lately I'm still assuming that this may be due to the water table as the house & patio are lower than all the surrounding land.
I am concerned that if I continue as intended that the ground will remain spongy and there will be the inevitable movement on the slabs. Can somebody please provide some guidance and advice on how to progress from here?
Would it be possible to relay the road stone with cement added to make a mix that would set hard. Should I be doing something underneath the Road Stone. Should I lay a complete concrete base across the whole patio area? Your comments greatly appreciated.
The problem I have is that an area of approx 3sq meters is very sodden and remains spongy despite considerable effort with the whacker plate. As the plate was being used it was noticable that the top surface was becoming wetter and the plate was difficult to move across the surface.
The soil is clay, but this is the only area where the water is accumulating. There are no water mains on this side of the house and being in the country we are unaffected by any other property. Whilst we haven't had much rain lately I'm still assuming that this may be due to the water table as the house & patio are lower than all the surrounding land.
I am concerned that if I continue as intended that the ground will remain spongy and there will be the inevitable movement on the slabs. Can somebody please provide some guidance and advice on how to progress from here?
Would it be possible to relay the road stone with cement added to make a mix that would set hard. Should I be doing something underneath the Road Stone. Should I lay a complete concrete base across the whole patio area? Your comments greatly appreciated.