DIY Builds
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Can I put pavers directly on clay soil?

When you are ready to start laying pavers on clay soil, begin by watering the area to make it easier to work with. Then, put down a geotextile layer. This material is similar to landscape fabric, and it can prevent weeds. It works exceptionally well for clay soil.

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Patio paving stones can help make your patio, garden or other outdoor area look beautiful and inviting. Not only can they reduce the amount of mud that gets tracked into the house, but they also provide a surface for playing, relaxing and entertaining. These landscape features take some time and dedication to install, but the effort is worth it. When laying pavers on clay soil, however, that’s another story. Clay soil presents various challenges that can make it difficult to achieve the desired effect with pavers, though it’s not impossible. To calculate the number of pavers needed, measure the length and width of the area; then multiply these two numbers. The result is the square footage of pavers needed. Add at least 5 percent to that number for extras. Another item to pick up is a straight shovel to help excavate hard-packed dirt. Plan out the area you plan to pave before you purchase pavers or your paver base. Draw out the space using graph paper and remember that the area needs to have some form of a slope, so water can run off to prevent pooling. This is especially important when laying pavers on clay soil. Even the best paver base for clay soil can’t undo the fact that clay drains poorly. Before laying out your pavers, you'll need to invest in a few materials, including pavers and the best paver base for clay soil. The base material for pavers generally consists of a material such as crushed rock, which has various-sized stones with sharp edges, a mixture that allows for easy compaction. However, when working with clay, a geotextile is the best option. For clay soil, remember that it requires a thicker base layer to support the pavers and prevent settling, according to Oregon State University. When you are ready to start laying pavers on clay soil, begin by watering the area to make it easier to work with. Then, put down a geotextile layer. This material is similar to landscape fabric, and it can prevent weeds. It works exceptionally well for clay soil. Not only will it prevent the paving stones from settling (the clay settles over time), but it will also help keep them even and level. The right base preparation, according to Rutgers University, can help prolong the life of your pavers on clay. After laying down the base material, install edge restraints to prevent the pavers from moving and separating. These can be made out of concrete, wood, metal or plastic. You may wish to put a layer of bedding sand on top of the base material to provide an additional base for your paving stones. Next, lay the pavers in the design that you’ve planned. You may need to cut some to size using a masonry chisel. After you have laid all the pavers, use a mechanical plate compactor to set the pavers in place. Sweep sand over the entire area to lock the pavers into place and clean and sweep the newly paved area. Then seal the area with a binding sealant. The sealant will help prevent stains as well as to help prevent vegetation from growing in the joints.

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Can you lay slabs straight onto concrete?

it will be fine to lay the slabs over the original concrete as long as you have 150mm between the path and the dpc height which is your internal floor height. you are best laying these on a 50mm concrete screed so that it is all keyed together.

Hello

I have a question regarding Laying stone paving over small concrete patio/path at back of my house and over old paving slab at front of house. The back is section is a small run of concrete that runs approx a meter wide from the house to the grass garden. The section at the front is old large paving slab that is between house and front wall. I was wondering if these can be slabbed over with new paving slab.

If so what other things would i need other than the slab.

Would it be best to lay on some sand/cement mortar mix?

Thank you in advance

Luke

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