Do I have to dig up the ground to put in a patio?
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at
2:13 am
Could I build a frame and have the patio elevated a bit? Can I lay rubber patio pavers over the dirt?
It’s a 20×12 area and I loathe the idea of digging up that much dirt. And finding a place to put it!
I like the idea of concrete pavers but do I have to lay rock and then sand? Or can I just use sand?
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No u don’t have to dig up the ground. You can make it elevated only you will need to make it level.. I built mine on the top of the ground. I got free sand from the road crew.. and had them dump it in the back of my truck.. then I had to upload it.. in the place I needed to put the patio. I then mixed in some left over concrete mix and some mortar mix.. into the sand this is red sand that gets hard when it gets dry and I thought it might set up real well and it did.. I then mixed the stuff together.. and started leveling it.. I had purchased the pavers already and unloaded them.. I also make me a heavy compactor out of some metal .. and wood handle. I packed the red sand and mixture. and leveled it as I did this.. small part at a time.. and then I got my daughter and her husband to finish it .. This is a hard job.. but I now have a beautiful patio..
IIf the area where the patio is to go has a hard well-compacted soil base, then huge quantities of hardcore are not necessary. This type of compacted soil base is found in areas that have been well walked upon over years, or have been subject to several passes by heavy machinery. If you can dig your heel into the surface, then it will need bolstering up with a layer of MOT type 1 sub-base, compacted into the surface with a hired plate compactor.
Where the area has been used as a flower bed, or otherwise cultivated during the last few years, then it will certainly need to be prepared. A compacted base of hardcore rubble, followed by a blinding of gravel or MOT type 1 sub-base material is then laid and compacted. This can be as little as 50mm deep.
`Made-up’ ground, (where soil has been deposited to raise levels) will certainly need a well prepared foundation after extensive compacting of the soil base. It would be wise to leave the area to settle before attempting to construct a patio. Regular drenches of water will accelerate the settling process
Foundation bases are best prepared from compacted rubble and or MOT type 1 sub-base material. (Scalpings). Compact your base with a hired plate compactor. The finished base should be even without any voids between the lumps of rubble/hardcore
You don’t have to dig it up if you don’t mind that it will stick up above the ground. As for installation and whether to use rock and sand or just one or the other, do as you are told by the salesman at the home improvement store or if you find instructions, follow what they recommend. It is my assumption that you will need both, to create a firm but flexible structure, while encouraging drainage. If you skimp now you will probably regret it later. Do it right and be done.