Is it possible to lay a patio on top of the current patio?

[wax lyrical]

Current patio is about 20 years old. Standard grey Indian sandstone slabs. Wife want much smaller stone slabs and is planning to lay it herself. Anyone done this? Pros and Cons?

Thanks in advance!

[TimmyMallett]

Cons: If the existing patio is not laid properly, you'll end up digging it all up. If your cement layer doesn't adhere to the existing patio is will move. Certainly if it's 20 years old. Is every slab stuck solid with no movement?

Any issues with the house DPC height?

Personally, I wouldn't. Too many think they can lay patios properly (no sleight on your wife's capabilities), and I wouldn't want to spend money that could be wasted.

If you lift the existing you can sell it to recoup some costs of doing it from scratch.

[Chrisgr31]

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. I wanted to raise mine by 200mm or so over existing patio and the conclusion was maybe not!

Whether existing slabs can be sold is an interesting point however the base below the existing patio is likely to be contaminated by insect etc movement over the years. Therefore the current patio may be due to move soon so do the job properly is the basic answer!

[SaTTaN]

Tangental, but bitter experience says smaller slabs = more joints, more maintenance every year to scrape the moss out, even with the modern fancy brush/wash in resin grout stuff.

Massive slabs FTW

[Skyedriver]

Yes, did exactly this, existing concrete flags were well secure, stoned up over the top followed by a sand blinding then mortar bed for Indian Sandstone paving. Raised the level by about 150mm as I buried one step into the house.

[Fatboy]

Easier option,just hire one of these and cut lines into the existing slabs, hey presto smaller ones in situ, no need to relay at all

[miniman]

wax lyrical said:

Current patio is about 20 years old. Standard grey Indian sandstone slabs. Wife want much smaller stone slabs and is planning to lay it herself. Anyone done this? Pros and Cons?

Thanks in advance!

Con is that you will end up putting it right, or paying to put it right

[OutInTheShed]

If the existing patio is very stable, with minimal movement, it could work well.

If there is significant movement in the old patio, then that will likely become apparent as one big crack across the new surface.

It's still a lot of work to make a reasonable job of it.

[bigmowley]

wax lyrical said:

Current patio is about 20 years old. Standard grey Indian sandstone slabs. Wife want much smaller stone slabs and is planning to lay it herself. Anyone done this? Pros and Cons?

Thanks in advance!

Make sure she wears gloves otherwise her hands will become quite dry and calloused.

[Mercury00]

They can still detect the bodies through two layers of slabs.

[8-P]

wax lyrical said:

Current patio is about 20 years old. Standard grey Indian sandstone slabs. Wife want much smaller stone slabs and is planning to lay it herself. Anyone done this? Pros and Cons?

Thanks in advance!

Unless it’s a very small area she will needs lots of time and energy. Not an easy job even if what you have as super solid.

[Turtle Shed]

Mercury00 said:

They can still detect the bodies through two layers of slabs.

Not if buried vertically.

[DonkeyApple]

wax lyrical said:

Current patio is about 20 years old. Standard grey Indian sandstone slabs. Wife want much smaller stone slabs and is planning to lay it herself. Anyone done this? Pros and Cons?

Thanks in advance!

Short answer is yes. Even if you have concerns re dpc level you can leave a large enough channel and fill with an ornamental gravel.

It just may not be the best solution.

For example, if the current slabs are all dead flat still and well bedded then this suggests that the base is good. I'd then want to know what the base was as that would probably steer me in a particular direction. If it's a whole load of cement and there's mortar holding the existing flags down then I'd hold the view that it's a case of either taking it all up or executing the bodge of laying new on top. However, if it were a dry mix then I'd consider lifting the flags in manageable sections, laying the new and then selling the old flags. However, I'd also have to bear in mind that smaller flags will exert more downward loads when being walked on so a base that was solid for large flags may not be for small ones.

Lots of people have put modern paving over crazy paving and it has often been the only sane diy solution when access to shift all the spoil away has been difficult.