View Full Version : rocking slab
scotty217
10-07-14, 09:35 PM
Hello all, part of my drive is paved with patio slabs, and two are rocking. Can anyone advise me how to fix this?
Tia
Scotty
Jayneflakes
10-07-14, 11:04 PM
Hello all, part of my drive is paved with patio slabs, and two are rocking. Can anyone advise me how to fix this?
Tia
Scotty
Yes, pull them up and move the dead bodies, replace with fresh sand and bury them somewhere else! :reaper:
scotty217
11-07-14, 06:11 AM
Hahahaaa😅
Matt-EUC
11-07-14, 10:00 AM
If there aren't any dead bodies of course, just lift the slabs and throw some sand down.
Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.
johnnyrod
11-07-14, 11:39 AM
I thought this was the morgue-inspired name of your new prog metal band with overtones of magic realism and acid skiffle. So I was going to suggest a mosh pit, edible bats, inflatable skeltons, 14,000,000 pyrotechnic blunderbiii (which I think is the plural of blunderbus), and a backing tape consisting mainly of the brown noise.
but it isn't
Lift slab, scrape out a couple of inches of muck, replace with either mortar or a mixture or ballast and cement in the same ratio (4:1 ish) - can be a dry mix. carve a cross in it witht he trowel (no kidding) and put it back down and stamp level. If you put too much muck under it then it'll rock again, the cross shape gives it space to squidge around. Leave to set for a day or two and say a few Hail Marys for good measure
keep it how it is and play air guitar when it rocks.
scotty217
11-07-14, 04:35 PM
Thanks all, especially you bib:rolleyes:. I think I might have to dig up the mortar laid by the previous owner/cowboy. I could leave them alone but when I park the bike up they are right where the side stand comes down. Always gives a fright when that little extra movement happens when I get off or on.
Depending on the exact circumstances, sometimes you can solve the problem simply by sweeping in some kiln dried sand. This will find its way into the gaps under the corners/edges which allow the rock. Make sure the weather is dry for a day or 2 before you do it so it doesn't wet and clog as soon as it hits the gaps.
Of course this isn't a guaranteed fix for really badly laid slabs, but I've fixed a couple of patios with lots of mildly rocking slabs like this. I always explain how likely it is to fix or not, but it's very quick and cheap to try, and if it works it saves a huge amount of work lifting/clearing/re-laying.
Nobbylad
11-07-14, 10:01 PM
Lift all existing paving, excavate to at least 400mm. Fill with 300mm crusher run, in 100mm courses, using a vibrating plate for each course. Bind with at least 25mm grit sand, using vibrating plate. Lay further 75mm grit sand and screed to level. Re-lay paving and use vibrating plate with rubber cover to 'bed' down. Fill joints with kiln dried sand or dry sand/cement (4:1), brushed in.
Or just lift the wobbly ones and put some grit sand down to level them off.
Specialone
11-07-14, 10:23 PM
Here's my two penneth...
Lift offending slabs, dig all old crap out of at least 40mm, get some sharp/concreting sand, building sand, cement and some plasticiser.
Mix at a ratio of 6 sharp, 4 building and two cement, make it like thick cream, lay a full bed down, but get the level about 5-10mm higher than where the bottom edge of the slab should be, but with a trowel create a few lines for it to spread out when the slabs are relaid and tapped down.
Tap down the slab gently, use a block of wood and a hammer to tap it down to required level.
Nobbylad
11-07-14, 10:35 PM
But where's the fun in that Phil? Surely, it's better to hire a mini digger, plate compactor, skip etc etc and go at it like a boss?!
:D
Specialone
11-07-14, 10:46 PM
But where's the fun in that Phil? Surely, it's better to hire a mini digger, plate compactor, skip etc etc and go at it like a boss?!
:D
I couldn't agree more, hey I will use a mini digger at every opportunity :)
Matt-EUC
12-07-14, 08:15 AM
Mrs specialone: "can you help me plant these flowers?"
Specialone: "Haha! This is a job for the mini digger!"
Mrs specialone: "we're having a barbecue tonight, can you put the coals on?"
Specialone: "Woohoo! Mini digger time!"
Mrs specialone: "the neighbour's dog shat in the garden can you clean it up?"
Specialone: "better break out the mini digger!"
Mrs specialone: "can you do the washing up?"
Specialone: "no, **** off. I'm playing with my mini digger"
Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.
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