I'm going to try doing a patio

[PositronicRay]

Are they std dumpy bags? Looks a lot of material for a 40sqm patio base

[BlindedByTheLights]

Looks right, about 12 ton there, I did 6 ton into an 18sq m base

[Chumley.mouse]

nunpuncher said:

Bugger!

Some prick parked their car blocking access to the lane at the back of the house. So this lot ended up in the front garden. So it's now going to mean a much longer walk with a wheelbarrow.

Should have stacked them 2-3 high, its a lot better/easier to shovel/scrape into a barrow if they are higher.

[nunpuncher]

PositronicRay said:

Are they std dumpy bags? Looks a lot of material for a 40sqm patio base

Think my camera settings are off or the lens on this phone has a strange depth of field because everything looks smaller. They are the standard c800kg bulk bags. They do seem lower and wider than usual which is a good thing.

I was happy for them to be single stacked as I can drag them round the back when I get to about 100kg.

Not kidding myself this will be easy but I like a tough workout and can take as long as I want to do this. Although the weather is set to turn so rain will turn.11t in to about 15+

[nunpuncher]

Progress update.

Driveway bit filled. Preempting all the "doesn't look deep enough" "that's not compacted" comments. I cut a 100x100 fence post in to blocks and placed the in the area. Compacted around them then pulled them out and filled the holes. The area closest to the garage has a channel dug in for the drains (garage regularly floods in heavy rain). The side has a channel to cement the edging in.


Got the first lot of base in to the narrow area. I decided to build L shaped stairs over the stty looking old ones. So I've filled the sub base to a point where I can start laying the blocks for that. Then I'll add a bit more type 1 on top of this. Hopefully you can see it's already pretty deep compared to this 100mm blocks.


Still 8 bags of type 1 to go.

[nunpuncher]

Progress update.

Stairs are built. Not showing a close up as the brick work isnt the tidies. The plan has always been to render or tile the risers so I wasn't ever going to bother. First time laying bricks. I enjoyed it as it required a good bit of thought and planning.

The base is finally in and compacted. It's amazing how everyone you know, including my own son, suddenly claims they have a sore back the minute you tell them you have 10t (got 1t bag left over) of aggregate to move. It's actually not been that bad but it has taken a while due to fitting in around the st weather and my actual job.

Still not decided on a stone. Had a few sandstone and granite samples and got some limestone coming this week. I've decided porcelain is a definite no. I think it'll be too unforgiving for a novice and will look st as I still have a bit of a slope. We also get a lot of frosty mornings here and I believe even the r11 stuff can be lethal.





Also got my manhole covers. Couldn't get a single to fit the 600x900 hole so got 2 600x450 which I'm cutting and welding to make a double.

[beambeam1]

Good work! I'd have been tempted to block the car in with a few carefully placed bags though! As for stone, I've just went with grey indian sandstone. My house is similar grey bottom half, white top half as yours so I've attached an image in case it helps:





The lads aren't finished yet so all the pointing and slabs still need to be cleaned. Given the trees I have at the back I think I'll be looking for some sealer!

[PhilboSE]

Good work so far. Looking good.

A word of warning - if mixing the muck and laying had slabs solo, don’t be surprised at how slow going it will be. I would say 7-10 good days to lay all that solo - especially with the cutting involved to follow the curves.

[nunpuncher]

Looks good beambeam. Kandla grey Indian Sandstone is a favourite of mine at the moment. I'll probably go for 600x900 layed brick block as I don't trust myself to get the pattern right using the mixed size packs in an irregular shape

PhilboSE, Someone asked me how many days I thought would be in the laying and I said I'm thinking weeks or months. TBH I'll be happy just to get it finished this year. I just do a bit when the weather is good enough and I'm in the mood. Got to keep the balance of DIY, work, family time and me time right.

[Cats_pyjamas]

Nice work! I've been working on our patio (decking was shot). Bit more block work required for mine. But it's getting there slowly.



Awaiting a delivery of 100mm cut Devon brown slate to face off the block work. (Hence the slab overhang currently)

[beambeam1]

nunpuncher said:

Looks good beambeam. Kandla grey Indian Sandstone is a favourite of mine at the moment. I'll probably go for 600x900 layed brick block as I don't trust myself to get the pattern right using the mixed size packs in an irregular shape

I don't think the pattern matters too much as long as you avoid any cross joints where possible!

FWIW, your West of Scotland quotes are pretty similar to my East of Scotland quotes. Just waiting on final bill as I made a few changes midway through the project...

[paulwirral]

There’s usually a pattern plan stapled to the crates or dropped on top of the paving under the plastic . It’s a doddle to follow and really easy to free hand it on the cuts .

[acer12]

good progress, stick at it

[nunpuncher]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Nice work! I've been working on our patio (decking was shot). Bit more block work required for mine. But it's getting there slowly.



Awaiting a delivery of 100mm cut Devon brown slate to face off the block work. (Hence the slab overhang currently)

That'll be a great place to sit and feel smug about your handy work if the summer decides to make an appearance. Rather jealous that you're nearly done.

Can I ask? Is that your own mixer? Because of how I'm working I'm going to buy one then sell once done as it'll work out cheaper than multiple hires. I've kept an eye on FB marketplace but 230v ones are rarely for sale around here.

[Cats_pyjamas]

So I bought the cheapest (140L) cement mixer I could find! I think it was around £170 posted.

My reasoning being even at £20/ week to hire, if it lasted 9 weeks I'd be better off. I can either sell it or keep it for future projects.

With the foundations for the block surround and 6m retaining wall, plus all the mortar mixes it has so far mixed tonnes and tonnes of cement and concrete.

There was some damage to the double insulated plug, I tried communicating with the retailer who was wasn't exactly forthcoming. So raised a section 75, and was refunded for the full amount - I am guessing the retailer wasn't forthcoming with the credit card co. either!. I then proceeded to fix the issue.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Wednesday 3rd July 07:44

[PhilboSE]

I got a Belle mixer off gumtree for £120. The drum is a bit mucky on the inside - obviously previous owners didn’t bother to clean it properly. Im holding on to it for now but I’ll be able to sell it for what I paid for it. Definitely the way to go rather than hire.

[paulwirral]

PhilboSE said:

I got a Belle mixer off gumtree for £120. The drum is a bit mucky on the inside - obviously previous owners didn’t bother to clean it properly. Im holding on to it for now but I’ll be able to sell it for what I paid for it. Definitely the way to go rather than hire.

Knock the thick bits off and set it away for an hour with a few half bricks and half a bag of gravel with 5 ltr of brick acid , it’ll clean it up but make sure to rinse it with clean water when your finished.

[PhilboSE]

paulwirral said:

PhilboSE said:

I got a Belle mixer off gumtree for £120. The drum is a bit mucky on the inside - obviously previous owners didn’t bother to clean it properly. Im holding on to it for now but I’ll be able to sell it for what I paid for it. Definitely the way to go rather than hire.

Knock the thick bits off and set it away for an hour with a few half bricks and half a bag of gravel with 5 ltr of brick acid , it’ll clean it up but make sure to rinse it with clean water when your finished.

Cheers. Tried that except without the brick acid. Will try with.

My builder said that to clean up their mixers they put them on a screeding job, apparently that brings them back up like a whistle.

[seabod91]

Cracking work. I’m poor so had to do ours myself. Watched a few YouTube videos and cracked on. Mistake I kept making was to dry a mix. Got there in the end. FAR from perfect but will do for us. Just need to raise and turf the rest of the lower garden now.

[PhilboSE]

nunpuncher said:

Kandla grey Indian Sandstone is a favourite of mine at the moment. I'll probably go for 600x900 layed brick block as I don't trust myself to get the pattern right using the mixed size packs in an irregular shape

I’ve had both sandstone and limestone (and York stone, and…) patios, of the first two, I’ve found sandstone to need significantly more ongoing maintenance than limestone.

Laying brick pattern will be a lot harder than mixed pack; you don’t even need to follow their patter (which is easy enough), you can freestyle it as long as you try to avoid 4 corners meeting at a single point and even that is not a disaster.

I said it earlier but I’ll say it again; tumbled edge with a 10-15mm gap is a LOT more forgiving to lay than a cut edge / thin gap.