Patio on clay - whack it or not?

[dwto...@googlemail.com]

Hi all,

I want to put in a 5m x 3m natural stone patio on an area I levelled a few months ago. It will on a very heavy clay soil. When I levelled it originally I hand-tamped it, and it has been exposed to the elements since then. Before I lay the patio on top of it, should I hire a plate compactor to squeeze out any last voids, or just hand-tamp it as I lay the stones? The stones will be laid on ~50mm of bedding mortar.

thanks,

dan.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I strongly advide some hardcore first.
Clay moves like an SOB and you want some gibve in whats between it and
the patio slabs. Or make a reinforced concrete raft and lay on that.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes and if there any sizable trees nearby whose roots go underneath all bets
are off!
Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email: bri...@blueyonder.co.uk
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


"The Natural Philosopher" <t...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:l2uaqj$74e$1...@news.albasani.net...

> On 07/10/13 13:46, dwto...@googlemail.com wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I want to put in a 5m x 3m natural stone patio on an area I levelled a
>> few months ago. It will on a very heavy clay soil. When I levelled it
>> originally I hand-tamped it, and it has been exposed to the elements
>> since then. Before I lay the patio on top of it, should I hire a plate
>> compactor to squeeze out any last voids, or just hand-tamp it as I lay
>> the stones? The stones will be laid on ~50mm of bedding mortar.
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> dan.
>>
> I strongly advide some hardcore first.
> Clay moves like an SOB and you want some gibve in whats between it and
> the patio slabs. Or make a reinforced concrete raft and lay on that.
>
>
> --
> Ineptocracy
>

> (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to

[dwto...@googlemail.com]

On Monday, 7 October 2013 13:52:35 UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 07/10/13 13:46, dan wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
>
> >
>
> > I want to put in a 5m x 3m natural stone patio on an area I levelled a few months ago. It will on a very heavy clay soil. When I levelled it originally I hand-tamped it, and it has been exposed to the elements since then. Before I lay the patio on top of it, should I hire a plate compactor to squeeze out any last voids, or just hand-tamp it as I lay the stones? The stones will be laid on ~50mm of bedding mortar.
>
> >
>
> > thanks,
>
> >
>
> > dan.
>
> >
>
> I strongly advide some hardcore first.
>
> Clay moves like an SOB and you want some gibve in whats between it and
>
> the patio slabs. Or make a reinforced concrete raft and lay on that.

Okay. Would 100mm be enough? I assume MOT is suitable?

There are no trees nearby.

thanks,

dan.

[Stephen]

assuming the slabs are 50mm thick,

dig down 200mm

fill and whack with wacker a 100mm bed of compacted MoT.

then lay a layer of 50mm sharp sand or 1 to cement to sharp sand mix and
bed your slabs on that.

[The Natural Philosopher]

worked here although i still have some movement

i'd lay rebar mesho over it too..

[The Natural Philosopher]

thats the 'royal' solution.

[Phil L]

Stephen wrote:
>
> assuming the slabs are 50mm thick,
>
> dig down 200mm
>
> fill and whack with wacker a 100mm bed of compacted MoT.
>
> then lay a layer of 50mm sharp sand or 1 to cement to sharp sand mix
> and bed your slabs on that.

If it's intended use is to park HGV's on.

To the OP, no whacker required for foot traffic, simply level up with a dry
mix of sand/cement about 4:1, rake level and stamp down then lay slabs as
normal on mortar of your choice.
You can lay a weed membrane over the clay if you're feeling up to it, it'll
save you some time in the years to come.

[Martin Bonner]

Nobody has pointed you at http://www.pavingexpert.com yet - so let me do
it. There is a forum.

Be aware that the advice there is very unlikely to give you a bad patio,
but it may well involve you in more work/expense than is necessary. In
other words if they say "nah, hand tamping will be fine", you can be
confident they are right. If they say "no, you need 500mm compacted
MOT", then they may be over-doing it.