Paving Slabs - Laying
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MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
a neighbour?
classic33
Leg End Member
[QUOTE 3000425, member: 9609"]I have a number of big paving slabs to lift and relay, this be the heavy buggers, the 3' x 2' foot ones that weigh about 10 stone each. There is no-way I can lift them in and out on a couple of wires with my dodgy back. So any thoughts or techniques or any home improvised tools for the job ?[/QUOTE]
Why do you need to lift them out again?
Why do you need to lift them out again?
My first job when I left school was working on the council laying pavements, or at least labouring for the pavoirs. If they have a gap between each slab lift it on one edge with a spade, or even better if you can get one, a pick axe with a flat blade on one side. Once up then walk the slab, don't try and lift it unless you have help.
Or
10 minutes with a sledge hammer and lay crazy paving.
Or
10 minutes with a sledge hammer and lay crazy paving.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
more seriously... long levers and rollers have made light work of heavy objects for millennia
JoeyB
Go on, tilt your head!
- Location
- Fareham, Hampshire
I had to position some the other day in the greenhouse for wifey, just walked them to get them where I needed them, saves the back a bit.
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
You might possibly still be able to hire a paving slab lifter from a decent plant hire company- they should be able to cope with 900x600 still... it makes lifting and repositioning slabs a doddle.... though I've just checked and couldn't see one anywhere that isn't a 2 man operation using a vacuum lifter.
But, my recommendations would be make sure you lay them on 100 to 150 hardcore [more if any soft spots] well tamped and 50 sand bed... I don't specify mortar dabs as too many end up rocking and/or crack + brush sand into joints rather than point them.
But, my recommendations would be make sure you lay them on 100 to 150 hardcore [more if any soft spots] well tamped and 50 sand bed... I don't specify mortar dabs as too many end up rocking and/or crack + brush sand into joints rather than point them.
accountantpete
OAP
Sturdy wheelbarrow that has seen some action (so scratches don't matter).
Also as AT says - make sure the new spot is well prepared.
Also as AT says - make sure the new spot is well prepared.
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
Ah, sorry thought it was renewing a path not individual slabs... though a 2 man vacuum lifter would do the job easily.
Brightski
Chronos Racing Team
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
I was going to say similar shovel to tip the slab then walk it corner to corner..
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
in the name of equal rights... tell the wife to do it 
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Gravel...
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Do they need to be that large?
I have been using a diamond tipped disc on my small angle grinder to cut my patio slabs. I had a few like yours to put under the toolshed and one of them had to be cut. With the disc it was an easy enough job working from both sides, and with care a clean edge is possible. The uncut ones I dodged into place using wrecking bars and stuff like that. I also have a tough sack barrow.
All the other slabs I laid were 600x450s, a manageable size. If you cut your slabs in half, I reckon the job'd be doable altho' I can't answer for your back!
I have been using a diamond tipped disc on my small angle grinder to cut my patio slabs. I had a few like yours to put under the toolshed and one of them had to be cut. With the disc it was an easy enough job working from both sides, and with care a clean edge is possible. The uncut ones I dodged into place using wrecking bars and stuff like that. I also have a tough sack barrow.
All the other slabs I laid were 600x450s, a manageable size. If you cut your slabs in half, I reckon the job'd be doable altho' I can't answer for your back!
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
I don't think this is a job you can do on your own.
It will be much easier to relay them flat if you do all of them although this may not be practical.
If you take them all up and stack them nearby you can easily level your sharp sand - no need for cement.
Tamp the sand and rake and do it again until you have a firm level (flat) surface. If your slabs are a uniform thickness they will be level the same as the sand. Next rake over one more time so that the sand is loose on the top then lay your first slab and work on this slab to lay the next one, avoid standing on the sand. Continue to the end using a crowbar or flat spade to slide the slabs tight together, if you spend enough time perfecting the sand the slabs should all settle together, if they don't avoid fiddling for a week or after a rainfall.
It will be much easier to relay them flat if you do all of them although this may not be practical.
If you take them all up and stack them nearby you can easily level your sharp sand - no need for cement.
Tamp the sand and rake and do it again until you have a firm level (flat) surface. If your slabs are a uniform thickness they will be level the same as the sand. Next rake over one more time so that the sand is loose on the top then lay your first slab and work on this slab to lay the next one, avoid standing on the sand. Continue to the end using a crowbar or flat spade to slide the slabs tight together, if you spend enough time perfecting the sand the slabs should all settle together, if they don't avoid fiddling for a week or after a rainfall.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
that's good advice... when telling the wife to do it
