Hi Wondering if anyone can help with a multitude of questions I have on a paving project. I am going to pave over an old area using a combination of the existing base and some new base. The area will only be a patio and not subject to heavy traffic like a driveway.
Here goes:
This is the area to be done. Most of it already has a concrete base which I will be leaving alone. There are 2 other areas which I will have to fill in.
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2 areas to be filled in are the ones with mud in the above picture.
I have cleared away an old paved area as it was unlevel
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question: For the 2 areas with mud, obviously I will bring them level with type 1 hardcore, then sand over both areas at once. Question is how deep should I go? 10CM seems to be recommended for driveways but will less be ok here? May main problem is getting rid of the mud I dig up, I've already spent time and money on getting rid of lots of other crap from the garden elsewhere.
This is what it looks like from an edge:
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issue is that the paving will increase the height of the floor. I will only be paving up to my gate:
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this will create a small step when you open the gate and go past it. What are the best ways around this? Maybe a sloped edge so there is no step? I would prefer to avoid a step as I can see people stumbling over it not remembering its there!
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fence will be one of the edges. it was put in by the neighbor and it seems I will have to bash away some of the concrete on my side to make it look nicer. What is the best way to do this? A chisel and hammer and just chip away at it until its back at ground level?
Finally - edging. I know with driveways you need an edge - but will I need one with a patio? my main issue is where I will put the edging. Obviously I can use the edge of the house and the shed but what about where the neighbors fence is and my gate is?
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you look at this picture you can see where the patio will stop - where there is a slight drop in the mud. The bit after will be turf - how do i edge it? I was going to buy some of the 'log wood' edging from B and Q to separate the patio and turf'
how would you edge the neighbors' fence?
i was hoping to not have a separate ending - just pave close as possible to all the edges and then fill with cement/sand.
i am unsure if i will be using slabs or the smaller driveway blocks yet.
thanks for any help!