Out of all of his inventions this is the one that impressed me the most. The ratio of simplicity in problem solving to outcome and reduction in stress on the back blows me away! One of those “how did I not think of this” moments
Still a lot more work than just spraying the weeds with some weedkiller, or just pressure wash the patio and that will cut the weeds off (and it needs pressure washing anyway). Long term solution: pressure wash first, then use some stone setting sand to grout the blocks - the sand has a little cement in it and sets up like grout after it gets wet the first time. Won't have a weed issue after that.
I get blown away constantly by his content. Also I love when Amogla (spelling?) shows up. Such a cool little 'cottage village' with just barebone fix it stuff. Learned ALOT of stuff on this channel.
This is the great thing about the Internet. You don't need to be this clever, you just need to see someone being this clever. Nice solution there Matthias!
Polymeric sand is what you need. Spread it, sweep it into the gaps, gently use a blower to clean off the excess then gently water and wait. It will cure to a consistency of rubber. Doesn't last forever though and will be redone eventually. Longevity depends on exposure. Edit to add: when using the leaf blower blow at a 45° angle to the pattern to keep as much as the polymeric in the gaps as possible.
Everyone has been giving great information for you. I have pavers and a cement slab in my backyard and I do a daily cleanup of the joints between the pavers and the manufactured cuts in my cement slab to prevent dust and seeds from settling in between the cracks. My 30 year pavers I perform a weekly cleanup and twice yearly I pull the weeds out. This is tedious work but it’s a way of performing some type of upkeep which works. The reduction in soil buildup because of the outdoor elements is the only way to reduce plant life from growing. Otherwise you’ll have to hire a contractor to perform quarterly work on your pavers. This is what’s not shown on these tv home repairs.
Matthias: The lifting device is pure genus. You come up with one great idea after another that is why I enjoy watching your videos, keep it up. Now about weeds in your patio,, there is a granulated weed killer called casaron. you sprinkle and sweep into the cracks and it prevents weed seeds from germinating. To rid the soil or in your case crushed rock you simply have to turn the material to aerate the soil. To sest you can plant a radish seed or two since they are quick to germinate. The casaron takes an inch of water to dissolve and form a gas in the soil. Hope this helps you. David Adair
@@GreatOak99 Well you shouldn't drink it, but glyphosate is exceptionally safe as far as herbicides go - glyphosate targets a metabolic pathway that isn't present in animals at all. That doesn't mean that overuse doesn't present other problems, but even water is toxic in excess.
We did something like this in reverse to help my dad move heavy shop tools (saws etc.) around on a fairly smooth floor. Built a "hover-platform" with a flexible skirt that was pressurized by the exhaust of a shop vac. Dead simple to do and very handy. (Apparently you can buy them now)
Another amazing invention from best woodworker on TH-cam! In my opinion you should just lift all the slabs, move some of the gravel into the slope and re-level with a long straightedge, then you can put down some weed control fabric or to be honest, for cheapness, just make your own from strips of old sheets, or plastic crisp packets, food packets etc... etc laid about 5-10 cm straddling either side of the joint line. Also, lay the slabs closer together - yes you will lose some overall surface area but you can have a strip of soil/grass/gravel along the building to allow better drainage and take up that loss and the smaller gaps you just fill with sand and vibrate (by thumping on them or letting the kids jump around on them for a while). Keep topping up with sand and then when you think all the gaps are as full as they can be then pour a dribble of varnish or polyurethane finish down the crack to bond the sand together and you'll get very few weeds coming back up and it won't cost you much at all...
I can imagine all of the hard scape installers looking at the wet/dry vacuum back at their shop a whole lot differently this morning. Even if you didn't have any materials this would pay for itself in less than one day. Commercially, I've seen the vacuum skirts made of a thin latex rubber - like a slightly thicker version of the rubber band materials the physical therapists use with patients. It has a bit more weight to it and won't blow around as easily.
A skirt for this could be as simple as laying a fat bead of silicone. I've used silicone in that manner in the past for vacuum forming, works really well even with uneven surfaces (like textured foam, for example, which is a PITA to vacuum form because normal machines can't "grip" it).
I understand all the physics related with the work you've just made but i still find it unbelievable that you can lift a stone slab with just a shop vac
Matthias ,you are a genius that’s why from last seven year every time a see your video , I just click like button before star to see it . Even if the task is seems to be difficult but Way you tackle it . It’s something unique, you just keep it simple. I have subscribed to your channel I think 7 years ago after watching just one of your video. Thanks for your efforts and keep sharing your thoughts and knowledge with everyone. I have learnt a lot of things about if there’s a problem how to fix it from you . It helps me a lot of my every day job and help me to be a very responsible and respected among my family, friends and my colleagues. Thanks again 👍🙏
Definitely one of your suckier projects! Besides maybe your dust collectors and impellers and that one bee trap! Love seeing your out of the box solutions to your problems!
Man, you're a genius... I wish I had a neighbor like you. I would sit down on my patio and look at what you're gone come up next =:). You are amazing...
There is a special type of concrete silicone from Sika that you could use in the gaps. That will cure as rubber and will last for as long as you want that patio. I did my driveway about 5 years ago and everything is just as good as the first day. No water wash-away, no gaps for dirt and leaves and acorns to get collected, therefore no weeds. You get the point.
Great idea, works great. Just spray vinegar on the weeds then pressure wash the joints clean and use polymeric sand in the joints. Then lightly spray with water and it activates it and dries hard so nothing can grow.
This video gave me the inspiration to use a shopvac to pull a large dent out of my cars bumper after someone hit it in a parking lot. I heated it up slightly and used a bucket, trash bag, tape and a shopvac and it sucked the dent right out of the bumper. Never underestimate relatively low pressure on a large surface area!
Now the question is how long will it take before someone sees this, and you can rent one at the big box store for $40 per hour. Also, the pressure washer idea is good, but burning the weeds out with a propane flame thrower is vastly more fulfilling.
For my patio, after I placed a layer of gravel, I then placed a layer of roofing ice dam membrane followed by the patio blocks. Not perfect but definitely a big improvement. After 20 years I get the occasional weed but no deep roots.
The Home and Garden Centers (generic name) sell a weed blocking landscape cloth. We put it down before we laid gravel paths and never had to worry about weeds again.
In the UK, in public spaces we sometimes have a very light mortar slurry between flagstones. It's not ideal for every location, though - and if you routinely see temperatures below freezing the mortar will crack very quickly. You might be able to reinforce it with something flexible, though - I've seen silicone or tarmac reinforcement before, but it isn't easy to emulsify.
I built this today and it worked really well. 70kg paving slab with turf over growing the edges. It bent the platform on the sack truck but it came up. Genius.
This is God damn genius. Simple, predictable, and not a single one of us thought of it. This is why I watch your channel, The uncommon degree of common Sense
You can make or buy spacers for laying pavers. Once you remove the spacers, just pour salt between the cracks. Might want to install plastic or rubber garden edging, the 10" stuff is best. Will keep chemical run-off from washing out into the rest of your yard; just run an edge around the perimeter of the pavers. You've got a lot of shifting and heaving, so you will have to relay the whole patio, sadly. Good thing is, the hardest part is already done - the base underlayment. Cool invention!
I was thinking to myself when I saw the title " this is going to take more time to make then just to move the stones" but as simple as you made it, I think it was the best solution without breaking your fingers. As for weeds, I always enjoy using white vinegar ( its cheap and comes in a big gallon jug) and just slosh them on any weeds and within a day they are dead and wont come back for some time. For a more long-term solution, I would pick those stones up and lay down some landscape fabric, or use a 1:2 salt to water mixture.
@@MushookieMan Also known as a wrecking bar, used for demolition. Usually a heavy, hexagonal bar about 3ft long, with a wedge at one end for prying and a hook at the other with a claw for pulling out nails.
Nice idea to move those pavers using a shop vac. Amazing it works. To keep the weeds out, drop a layer of black weed barrier fabric between the gravel and the earth below. That keeps the sunlight out and you'll avoid the weeds. The fabric is not expensive at all.
We have big patio stones in our back yard, and those are laid in cement and sand (we do not put them in gravel overhere, I think (in NL). Then fill the spaces between the stones with a sand/cement mixture. Nothing comes through (but to be fair it does turn very slippery in winter because water stays on top longer and this in turn causes algae to grow).
Put a layer of heavy poly under the slabs. It really helps to stop the weeds from taking hold and when they do grow here and there they are relatively east to just pull out. You can just put 6 inch stips under the joints but the savings are not that great and it can be a pita.
Explore using polymeric sand as a long-term solution or simply spray cracks with common white vinegar each spring. Here in the southern US, the polymeric sand keeps the debris out and prevents weeds from taking hold. There are particulars to follow in application of the sand to prevent staining of patio stones. There are several videos on TH-cam relating to its use and application. It may not handle freeze/thaw heave. The vinegar is a safe and cost-effective option which controls weeds well. It can be sprayed or poured into the cracks. Thanks for all the great content! Best to you!
to keep weeds out: use a pressure washer to clean the gaps so less nutrients and seeds build up on areas where you get loads of weeds just pour over hot water, like whe you cook potatoes the hot water kills the weeds and the salt makes an unfriendly environment for further growth
@@kurtlindner you don't need to add salt, but when you cooking potatoes or pasta anyways you can use that water and it has salt already in it which is s nice side effect
Nooooo, you will wash out the aggregate, fill the gaps with a dry mix of sand and cement and just keep an eye on it, when you see any green pull it or nuc it.
I gave you a thumbs up before even watching the video. Why? Because you're the first one making such a novel contraption on youtube, so you're the leader on this project. Just like infinity tables or live edge coffee tables, where one youtuber does it and everybody else goes copy cat, it's refreshing to see always novel content on your channel. I expect now everyone will start posting this kind of project to their channels! Anyway, I found that rock dust is a very cheap weed preventer since it contains no nutrients the weeds need, and it settles/packs down tightly to prevent weed seeds from sending out roots. You just spread it with a broom across the cracks, sprinkle it with water to pack down, and when dry, broom away any excess, kind of like grouting bathroom tiles.
Very good idea! I would imagine getting weeds to stop growing between pavers is like pushing water up a hill! Ask the Romans. However, If the base layer is thick enough and you have a layer of landscape cloth in there somewhere you wound prevent the weeds for a while. Also drainage is important, no water no life! For my clients I would recommend 8” of base altogether. 6” of 3/4” crushed gravel compacted and 2” of course sand compacted to screed before laying the patio. (Also in the future if you lift and replace only one paver at a time you might prevent the misalignment of them all when your done. Love your videos, and keep up the good work.
On This Old House, after laying patio stones, they always spread a fine grain dust material into the cracks using a broom. After spreading the material, they then use a hose to wet the material which locks it together and forms a barrier. Here's a video where Roger is demonstrating the dust for Kevin. How to Lay a New Brick Patio | This Old House th-cam.com/video/2IZrOQ443sg/w-d-xo.html
@@doxy5709 No, its polymorphic sand. Using any cement or concrete between these pavers will simply end up cracking, and a smaller chance of cracking your pavers. You'd end up looking good for one summer or two, and then weeds growing out of the cracks in your cement/crete.
For narrow joints, polymeric sand between the pavers works well. You need to make sure to work it in well though. It's not all that strong, so if you have any voids it will eventually collapse into them, and weeds will get through. It also wears and erodes, and so it needs to be touched up every few years. I've also caulked my joints. It works and looks great, but it's relatively expensive and labor intensive. It also needs to be repaired regularly, and some repairs require removing the old caulk, which can be stubborn. Now I just use weed killer. I wait for weeds to emerge in the spring, then spray them down. About a week later I pressure wash, (which I do annually anyway) which gets rid of the dead ones. I have to pull a few weeds by hand over the course of the summer, but not many.
Pretty slick. Reminds me of the magnetic manhole cover lifters. I use pure household white vinegar for weeds between pavers and concrete joints. I use an inexpensive 2 gallon garden sprayer and put one gallon of vinegar in. The rest of the space is to build air pressure in. One gallon covers all the treatment I do for my 1/2 acre corner lot. I put it on heavy and try to do it after it has not rained for a couple days so the weeds will be real thirsty. I used it just the other day when I was mowing the lawn. I put it on around Noon and by 5 PM the same day those weeds were dead. They had burnt up in the sun as they drank in the vinegar plus what was on the surface of their leaves. It costs a lot less than the chemical weed killers but it's a lot safer. If a kid or neighbors pet walks on a treated weed they will not be injured. I usually have to use it about every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on how much it rains. But it's worked for me for over 20 years. Give it a try, it will only cost you about $2 for a gallon at your supermarket. I use the generic stuff, the weeds don't care. 🙂
I use the following recipe for the mortar - 1 part cement to 1 parts kiln dried sand to 2.5 parts water and some fibreglass stands to prevent cracking. Pour it in the gaps with a large funnel. Works a treat.
@@daveyjones7391 I assumed sand was mostly crystalline in composition, it changes when heated? I think this might be a rabbit hole. My natural inclination would be that sand from the same source would be similar if not the same as aggregate.
That’s quite a contraption! If you put down some landscape fabric before you place the stones again it will stop the weeds. Also, there should be a slight gap between each stone which is usually filled with sand to allow drainage and thermal expansion.
Landscape fabric breaks down and then is almost impossible to remove from the soil, and actually makes weeds harder to pull once they've established themselves in the broken down fabric.
Very ingenious!! I have been told to use limestone gravel for fighting the weeds and I will also say that I have a stone (quartz) rocks covering along my fence and my wife’s work uses salt to help keep weeds from the areas that are ground covered with stones… so we tried it and it seems like it’s pretty effective… but just remember that Mother Nature is always to replenish and to procreate the plants and that you can never completely stop the wind and dust and seeds from falling into the cracks…
For weeds: if you're lifting the pavers out, put some geotextile under them before placing them back. Still allows drainage but really inhibits roots, usually keeping it just in the cracks.
If you wonder why it can produce so much force, remember suction-force=suction-pressure*area. As long as the shop vac can maintain that pressure, it can lift a tank if there is enough area.
1. Use a bladed weed whacker between the tiles. Vacuum out the remainder. Use elastomeric sand. 2. Use RoundUp and just let the weeds die and decay. 3. Remove the tiles and weeds then put plastic bags under the tiles. Sweep elastomeric sand between the tiles and wet it in. 4. Pull up the tiles and pour concrete.
The only way to keep weeds from growing would be to fill the gaps with something that completely blocks off weed seeds from establishing roots. Some people have already suggested polymeric sand, which would probably be the ideal solution, but I don't know what the cost would be for how many stones you have, and how much work you want to put in. If I only had to fill a couple big gaps, the cheapskate in me would probably cut a piece of that foam pipe insulation to fit tight into the gap, and then use some house paint to give it an external layer of protection from sunlight. It would probably be ugly, and might not last as long as the polymeric sand, but it would at least be a cheap fix for now.
Soak the soil with a solution of high percentage acetic acid vinegar & salt solution (recipes on gardening sites) to kill existing weeds. Cover the ground with plastic sheeting (6 mil vapour barrier). Carefully replace the patio stones.
Love the video it helped me build my own for my patio re-lay last year. The difference for me was I used a probst vph-150 suction head from ebay £20 instead of the first part of your video making the plate. Then instead of the vacuum which I got working as you showed I decided to use a car type inflator 150L / min and connect it to a vacuum generator block ( simple block of aluminum with three holes, £5 CV 20HS Pneumatic Air Exhaust Vacuum Ejector Valve Compact and Powerful) works a treat. Maybe others would benefit from you showing that in another video. At least this way I'm not in the dog house for burning out the vacuum cleaner lol.
Your patio stone lift / mover is genius! I have had pretty good luck drastically reducing weeds with a polymeric sand in the grout joints. It hardens with moisture - not as hard as concrete so it still has some give for the stones, but keeps weeds from germinating.
Vacuums may be the best lifting solution ever. Izzy Swan found and starting selling these rechargeable hand-held suction devices called Grabo, and has created some adapters and jigs to give them additional uses. Using a Shop-Vac to do the same thing for heavy stuff like pavers is that concept on steroids!
This is what I like about this person, unlike many other makers who only overequip themselves by buying the latest gadget from Rockler, Matthias uses his brain.
Under the stones, line the top layer of the gravel with plastic bags. It will create a barrier between the soil and the atmosphere. Works like a charm on my back patio!
Ingenious idea! 👍 I never think about using shop vacuum cleaner as lifting device! Probably, I will lift these plates old style - with big crowbar and hands..
Brilliant!!! I have to build one of these! I only wish I'd seen this before I did a paver project at the house this last summer. It would have saved both time and my back!
Clever invention! I use a large weed burner attached to a propane tank. Pressure washer after that and polymeric sand. It still has to be done every few years.
You never fail to amaze me Matthias. You are truly one of a kind. Try a really find stone dust between the stones. But pack the crap out of it to make it solid.
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This is the good old-timey Matthias stuff. Love it!
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Out of all of his inventions this is the one that impressed me the most. The ratio of simplicity in problem solving to outcome and reduction in stress on the back blows me away! One of those “how did I not think of this” moments
great points.
Still a lot more work than just spraying the weeds with some weedkiller, or just pressure wash the patio and that will cut the weeds off (and it needs pressure washing anyway). Long term solution: pressure wash first, then use some stone setting sand to grout the blocks - the sand has a little cement in it and sets up like grout after it gets wet the first time. Won't have a weed issue after that.
Matthias is great, but these already exist. I own a couple. (probst slab lifter)
I get blown away constantly by his content. Also I love when Amogla (spelling?) shows up. Such a cool little 'cottage village' with just barebone fix it stuff. Learned ALOT of stuff on this channel.
@@gorak9000 Chemical weedkillers aren't legal in Ontario
The mad lad does it again. Matthias is truly the MacGyver of our time.
Maybe, if you don't count McGruber.
I just watched modern magyver. Matthias must have missed the auditions a few years ago.
Wow, I have to say I was totally surprised that worked, the trash bag was an incredible, yet simple solution to the leakage.
It's like watching a reverse hovercraft...
This is the great thing about the Internet. You don't need to be this clever, you just need to see someone being this clever. Nice solution there Matthias!
Holy smokes. This is possibly the greatest payoff:effort ratio project you’ve done. So simple and effective.
Polymeric sand is what you need. Spread it, sweep it into the gaps, gently use a blower to clean off the excess then gently water and wait. It will cure to a consistency of rubber. Doesn't last forever though and will be redone eventually. Longevity depends on exposure.
Edit to add: when using the leaf blower blow at a 45° angle to the pattern to keep as much as the polymeric in the gaps as possible.
was going to say the same.. but i think some of those gaps are a bit too large for it tho.
I used that stuff once. It keeps weeds down but mold and moss grows in the shady areas.
Plus the Polymeric sand will make it harder for ants to make holes in the cracks
Yep, used that with pavers around the swimming pool. No weeds. no ants, works well but kinda expensive.
Everyone has been giving great information for you. I have pavers and a cement slab in my backyard and I do a daily cleanup of the joints between the pavers and the manufactured cuts in my cement slab to prevent dust and seeds from settling in between the cracks. My 30 year pavers I perform a weekly cleanup and twice yearly I pull the weeds out. This is tedious work but it’s a way of performing some type of upkeep which works. The reduction in soil buildup because of the outdoor elements is the only way to reduce plant life from growing. Otherwise you’ll have to hire a contractor to perform quarterly work on your pavers. This is what’s not shown on these tv home repairs.
Matthias: The lifting device is pure genus. You come up with one great idea after another that is why I enjoy watching your videos, keep it up. Now about weeds in your patio,, there is a granulated weed killer called casaron. you sprinkle and sweep into the cracks and it prevents weed seeds from germinating. To rid the soil or in your case crushed rock you simply have to turn the material to aerate the soil. To sest you can plant a radish seed or two since they are quick to germinate. The casaron takes an inch of water to dissolve and form a gas in the soil. Hope this helps you. David Adair
Mathias does it again doing crazy things we never thought possible.
I'm absolutely impressed how that thin plastic bag made, and sustained, such a tight seal under a heavy load!! Hats off for a brilliant idea!
It is a brilliant solution but I’m kinda wondering has he heard of Round-Up? That’s my advice for keeping weeds from growing on concrete.
@@dpunlasmith isn’t that chemical really bad for humans?
Well... People have been making rc hovercrafts with that kind of plastic bag for years. So... 😬
@@GreatOak99 Well you shouldn't drink it, but glyphosate is exceptionally safe as far as herbicides go - glyphosate targets a metabolic pathway that isn't present in animals at all. That doesn't mean that overuse doesn't present other problems, but even water is toxic in excess.
Diesel fuel...
We did something like this in reverse to help my dad move heavy shop tools (saws etc.) around on a fairly smooth floor. Built a "hover-platform" with a flexible skirt that was pressurized by the exhaust of a shop vac. Dead simple to do and very handy. (Apparently you can buy them now)
Like a little hovercraft. hehe.
Another amazing invention from best woodworker on TH-cam!
In my opinion you should just lift all the slabs, move some of the gravel into the slope and re-level with a long straightedge, then you can put down some weed control fabric or to be honest, for cheapness, just make your own from strips of old sheets, or plastic crisp packets, food packets etc... etc laid about 5-10 cm straddling either side of the joint line.
Also, lay the slabs closer together - yes you will lose some overall surface area but you can have a strip of soil/grass/gravel along the building to allow better drainage and take up that loss and the smaller gaps you just fill with sand and vibrate (by thumping on them or letting the kids jump around on them for a while). Keep topping up with sand and then when you think all the gaps are as full as they can be then pour a dribble of varnish or polyurethane finish down the crack to bond the sand together and you'll get very few weeds coming back up and it won't cost you much at all...
It isn't often that the word genius can be truly attributed to someone, but you Matthias are indeed a genius!
I can imagine all of the hard scape installers looking at the wet/dry vacuum back at their shop a whole lot differently this morning. Even if you didn't have any materials this would pay for itself in less than one day. Commercially, I've seen the vacuum skirts made of a thin latex rubber - like a slightly thicker version of the rubber band materials the physical therapists use with patients. It has a bit more weight to it and won't blow around as easily.
A skirt for this could be as simple as laying a fat bead of silicone. I've used silicone in that manner in the past for vacuum forming, works really well even with uneven surfaces (like textured foam, for example, which is a PITA to vacuum form because normal machines can't "grip" it).
I was thinking he'd slap some weather stripping on the bottom but a garbage bag is thrifty to an extreme.
Yep, if this isn't available as a commercial product already, it's about to be.
I understand all the physics related with the work you've just made but i still find it unbelievable that you can lift a stone slab with just a shop vac
You sir, are the embodiment of working smarter and not harder...
Another clever invention from Canada's premier engineering genius!
Matthias ,you are a genius that’s why from last seven year every time a see your video , I just click like button before star to see it . Even if the task is seems to be difficult but Way you tackle it . It’s something unique, you just keep it simple. I have subscribed to your channel I think 7 years ago after watching just one of your video. Thanks for your efforts and keep sharing your thoughts and knowledge with everyone. I have learnt a lot of things about if there’s a problem how to fix it from you . It helps me a lot of my every day job and help me to be a very responsible and respected among my family, friends and my colleagues. Thanks again 👍🙏
One of the most genius things I’ve seen. Simple and brilliant.
Definitely one of your suckier projects! Besides maybe your dust collectors and impellers and that one bee trap! Love seeing your out of the box solutions to your problems!
Man, you're a genius... I wish I had a neighbor like you. I would sit down on my patio and look at what you're gone come up next =:). You are amazing...
There is a special type of concrete silicone from Sika that you could use in the gaps. That will cure as rubber and will last for as long as you want that patio. I did my driveway about 5 years ago and everything is just as good as the first day. No water wash-away, no gaps for dirt and leaves and acorns to get collected, therefore no weeds. You get the point.
Great idea, works great. Just spray vinegar on the weeds then pressure wash the joints clean and use polymeric sand in the joints. Then lightly spray with water and it activates it and dries hard so nothing can grow.
Yes, I've had good luck with polymeric sand.
i wouldn't even have tried because i'd just have assumed it wouldn't have enough suction! that was awesome, well done! 👍👍👍👍
This video gave me the inspiration to use a shopvac to pull a large dent out of my cars bumper after someone hit it in a parking lot. I heated it up slightly and used a bucket, trash bag, tape and a shopvac and it sucked the dent right out of the bumper. Never underestimate relatively low pressure on a large surface area!
You sir, a the definition of a engineer!
Ach der Truppe :D. Schön dich hier anzutreffen! Wahrlich ist Mathias ein Ingenieur auf hohem Niveau.
This is such an overly engineered solution, I love it
Yep, a spade does the same job in less time.
It’s not though. It’s so simple.
@@danielwilson5102 A spade and your back.
It's impossible to resist one of your invention videos!
Was it just me, or did anybody else crack a smile whenever he lifted a slab?
Use polymeric sand between stone to prevent weeds, you spray it with water and it turns into a hard grout type filler
This is how to do it, get a high quality polymeric sand, something from a stone yard or patio block supplier.
Now the question is how long will it take before someone sees this, and you can rent one at the big box store for $40 per hour. Also, the pressure washer idea is good, but burning the weeds out with a propane flame thrower is vastly more fulfilling.
Vacuum lifter already exist and you can hire them.
Before I even watch, this is exactly why I'm subscribed to this channel :)
So simple but so smart. I can't believe there isn't a commercial version of this for landscapers.
It does exist
For my patio, after I placed a layer of gravel, I then placed a layer of roofing ice dam membrane followed by the patio blocks. Not perfect but definitely a big improvement. After 20 years I get the occasional weed but no deep roots.
The Home and Garden Centers (generic name) sell a weed blocking landscape cloth. We put it down before we laid gravel paths and never had to worry about weeds again.
In the UK, in public spaces we sometimes have a very light mortar slurry between flagstones. It's not ideal for every location, though - and if you routinely see temperatures below freezing the mortar will crack very quickly. You might be able to reinforce it with something flexible, though - I've seen silicone or tarmac reinforcement before, but it isn't easy to emulsify.
I built this today and it worked really well. 70kg paving slab with turf over growing the edges. It bent the platform on the sack truck but it came up. Genius.
This is God damn genius. Simple, predictable, and not a single one of us thought of it. This is why I watch your channel, The uncommon degree of common Sense
You obviously don't know, but vacuum lifters are a common thing in landscaping, industrial, packaging, etc.
You can make or buy spacers for laying pavers. Once you remove the spacers, just pour salt between the cracks. Might want to install plastic or rubber garden edging, the 10" stuff is best. Will keep chemical run-off from washing out into the rest of your yard; just run an edge around the perimeter of the pavers. You've got a lot of shifting and heaving, so you will have to relay the whole patio, sadly. Good thing is, the hardest part is already done - the base underlayment.
Cool invention!
I was thinking to myself when I saw the title " this is going to take more time to make then just to move the stones" but as simple as you made it, I think it was the best solution without breaking your fingers. As for weeds, I always enjoy using white vinegar ( its cheap and comes in a big gallon jug) and just slosh them on any weeds and within a day they are dead and wont come back for some time. For a more long-term solution, I would pick those stones up and lay down some landscape fabric, or use a 1:2 salt to water mixture.
What is a crowbar?
@@MushookieMan It's where crows get drunk and pick up chicks. :-)
@@MushookieMan A steel bar with a bend and slightly forked wedge on one end.
@@MushookieMan Also known as a wrecking bar, used for demolition. Usually a heavy, hexagonal bar about 3ft long, with a wedge at one end for prying and a hook at the other with a claw for pulling out nails.
Absolute lunacy with a huge side of genius. Love your videos. Keep them coming!
Nice idea to move those pavers using a shop vac. Amazing it works. To keep the weeds out, drop a layer of black weed barrier fabric between the gravel and the earth below. That keeps the sunlight out and you'll avoid the weeds. The fabric is not expensive at all.
We have big patio stones in our back yard, and those are laid in cement and sand (we do not put them in gravel overhere, I think (in NL). Then fill the spaces between the stones with a sand/cement mixture. Nothing comes through (but to be fair it does turn very slippery in winter because water stays on top longer and this in turn causes algae to grow).
This is rad, imagine if Matthias was your physics teacher? I would have majored in Physics.
now THIS is working smart instead of hard. It takes a lot of genius to come up with a solution this simple.
Wow! That's a cool idea. Using your shopvac to move those patio stones. Roundup is a good product to kill the weeds.
Put a layer of heavy poly under the slabs. It really helps to stop the weeds from taking hold and when they do grow here and there they are relatively east to just pull out. You can just put 6 inch stips under the joints but the savings are not that great and it can be a pita.
Yup. I've seen them made out of tyvek as well with holes to allow water seepage. The ultimate weed preventative.
Wait ... no landscape fabric weed barrier?
Also, the stone lifter design is genius. Awesome idea!
Weed barrier is great but organics and dirt just build up over time on top of it
simple easy to digest video, hypothosis, test, experiment, results. 10/10
Explore using polymeric sand as a long-term solution or simply spray cracks with common white vinegar each spring. Here in the southern US, the polymeric sand keeps the debris out and prevents weeds from taking hold. There are particulars to follow in application of the sand to prevent staining of patio stones. There are several videos on TH-cam relating to its use and application. It may not handle freeze/thaw heave. The vinegar is a safe and cost-effective option which controls weeds well. It can be sprayed or poured into the cracks. Thanks for all the great content! Best to you!
to keep weeds out: use a pressure washer to clean the gaps so less nutrients and seeds build up
on areas where you get loads of weeds just pour over hot water, like whe you cook potatoes the hot water kills the weeds and the salt makes an unfriendly environment for further growth
I use boiling water as well, it is very effective. I don't usually add salt, that's a great idea I'll utilize next time.
@@kurtlindner you don't need to add salt, but when you cooking potatoes or pasta anyways you can use that water and it has salt already in it which is s nice side effect
I have tried this too , it works. You might add sand or sand and a little cement powder mixed to fill gaps to stop seeds getting a hold in cracks.
Nooooo, you will wash out the aggregate, fill the gaps with a dry mix of sand and cement and just keep an eye on it, when you see any green pull it or nuc it.
@@das250250 cement powder mix would get wet once it rains and could be problematic
I gave you a thumbs up before even watching the video. Why? Because you're the first one making such a novel contraption on youtube, so you're the leader on this project. Just like infinity tables or live edge coffee tables, where one youtuber does it and everybody else goes copy cat, it's refreshing to see always novel content on your channel. I expect now everyone will start posting this kind of project to their channels! Anyway, I found that rock dust is a very cheap weed preventer since it contains no nutrients the weeds need, and it settles/packs down tightly to prevent weed seeds from sending out roots. You just spread it with a broom across the cracks, sprinkle it with water to pack down, and when dry, broom away any excess, kind of like grouting bathroom tiles.
Very good idea!
I would imagine getting weeds to stop growing between pavers is like pushing water up a hill! Ask the Romans.
However, If the base layer is thick enough and you have a layer of landscape cloth in there somewhere you wound prevent the weeds for a while. Also drainage is important, no water no life! For my clients I would recommend 8” of base altogether.
6” of 3/4” crushed gravel compacted and 2” of course sand compacted to screed before laying the patio. (Also in the future if you lift and replace only one paver at a time you might prevent the misalignment of them all when your done.
Love your videos, and keep up the good work.
I can't believe this works.... Faceman, Mr T and Hannibal would all be proud
On This Old House, after laying patio stones, they always spread a fine grain dust material into the cracks using a broom.
After spreading the material, they then use a hose to wet the material which locks it together and forms a barrier.
Here's a video where Roger is demonstrating the dust for Kevin.
How to Lay a New Brick Patio | This Old House
th-cam.com/video/2IZrOQ443sg/w-d-xo.html
I believe it's called portland cement.
It's actually Polymeric sand
It's at 4:21 on the following video.
th-cam.com/video/2IZrOQ443sg/w-d-xo.html
@@doxy5709 No, its polymorphic sand. Using any cement or concrete between these pavers will simply end up cracking, and a smaller chance of cracking your pavers. You'd end up looking good for one summer or two, and then weeds growing out of the cracks in your cement/crete.
For narrow joints, polymeric sand between the pavers works well. You need to make sure to work it in well though. It's not all that strong, so if you have any voids it will eventually collapse into them, and weeds will get through. It also wears and erodes, and so it needs to be touched up every few years.
I've also caulked my joints. It works and looks great, but it's relatively expensive and labor intensive. It also needs to be repaired regularly, and some repairs require removing the old caulk, which can be stubborn.
Now I just use weed killer. I wait for weeds to emerge in the spring, then spray them down. About a week later I pressure wash, (which I do annually anyway) which gets rid of the dead ones. I have to pull a few weeds by hand over the course of the summer, but not many.
Pretty slick. Reminds me of the magnetic manhole cover lifters.
I use pure household white vinegar for weeds between pavers and concrete joints. I use an inexpensive 2 gallon garden sprayer and put one gallon of vinegar in. The rest of the space is to build air pressure in. One gallon covers all the treatment I do for my 1/2 acre corner lot. I put it on heavy and try to do it after it has not rained for a couple days so the weeds will be real thirsty. I used it just the other day when I was mowing the lawn. I put it on around Noon and by 5 PM the same day those weeds were dead. They had burnt up in the sun as they drank in the vinegar plus what was on the surface of their leaves.
It costs a lot less than the chemical weed killers but it's a lot safer. If a kid or neighbors pet walks on a treated weed they will not be injured. I usually have to use it about every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on how much it rains. But it's worked for me for over 20 years. Give it a try, it will only cost you about $2 for a gallon at your supermarket. I use the generic stuff, the weeds don't care. 🙂
Work smarter not harder, once again you amazed us. 👏
I use the following recipe for the mortar - 1 part cement to 1 parts kiln dried sand to 2.5 parts water and some fibreglass stands to prevent cracking. Pour it in the gaps with a large funnel. Works a treat.
what is "fibreglass stands"?
@@das250250 Typo. Should be "fiberglass strands"
Why kiln dried sand?
@@jonanderson5137 it has a lower moisture content and a superior crystalline structure which improves the strength of the end product.
@@daveyjones7391 I assumed sand was mostly crystalline in composition, it changes when heated? I think this might be a rabbit hole. My natural inclination would be that sand from the same source would be similar if not the same as aggregate.
That’s quite a contraption! If you put down some landscape fabric before you place the stones again it will stop the weeds. Also, there should be a slight gap between each stone which is usually filled with sand to allow drainage and thermal expansion.
I was also thinking landscape fabric, but I don't think I've ever heard of that being done (I'm no expert). I wonder if there's a good reason not to.
Landscape fabric breaks down and then is almost impossible to remove from the soil, and actually makes weeds harder to pull once they've established themselves in the broken down fabric.
Very ingenious!! I have been told to use limestone gravel for fighting the weeds and I will also say that I have a stone (quartz) rocks covering along my fence and my wife’s work uses salt to help keep weeds from the areas that are ground covered with stones… so we tried it and it seems like it’s pretty effective… but just remember that Mother Nature is always to replenish and to procreate the plants and that you can never completely stop the wind and dust and seeds from falling into the cracks…
It has to be equal parts frustration and amazement living with you.
For weeds: if you're lifting the pavers out, put some geotextile under them before placing them back. Still allows drainage but really inhibits roots, usually keeping it just in the cracks.
If you wonder why it can produce so much force, remember suction-force=suction-pressure*area. As long as the shop vac can maintain that pressure, it can lift a tank if there is enough area.
If we were sitting having a coffee and you told me your idea to build this I would have doubted it would work.
Brilliant. I''m never lifting another patio block by hand again.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how good does it feel when an idea like this actually works out? Looks like a solid 11 to me.
1. Use a bladed weed whacker between the tiles. Vacuum out the remainder. Use elastomeric sand.
2. Use RoundUp and just let the weeds die and decay.
3. Remove the tiles and weeds then put plastic bags under the tiles. Sweep elastomeric sand between the tiles and wet it in.
4. Pull up the tiles and pour concrete.
Let's try and stop using roundup ,it is a disgusting chemical that has destroyed so much of the environment biology and is not healthy.
That’s just next level. Never in a million years would I have thought of that.
Vides like this are why I love this channel.
The only way to keep weeds from growing would be to fill the gaps with something that completely blocks off weed seeds from establishing roots. Some people have already suggested polymeric sand, which would probably be the ideal solution, but I don't know what the cost would be for how many stones you have, and how much work you want to put in. If I only had to fill a couple big gaps, the cheapskate in me would probably cut a piece of that foam pipe insulation to fit tight into the gap, and then use some house paint to give it an external layer of protection from sunlight. It would probably be ugly, and might not last as long as the polymeric sand, but it would at least be a cheap fix for now.
you can get foam 'backer rod' which is saving you a cutting step
We've tried polymeric sand, sadly with unsatisfactory results.
Soak the soil with a solution of high percentage acetic acid vinegar & salt solution (recipes on gardening sites) to kill existing weeds. Cover the ground with plastic sheeting (6 mil vapour barrier). Carefully replace the patio stones.
Fabulous back saving idea! However, Roundup works too!
Love the video it helped me build my own for my patio re-lay last year. The difference for me was I used a probst vph-150 suction head from ebay £20 instead of the first part of your video making the plate. Then instead of the vacuum which I got working as you showed I decided to use a car type inflator 150L / min and connect it to a vacuum generator block ( simple block of aluminum with three holes, £5 CV 20HS Pneumatic Air Exhaust Vacuum Ejector Valve Compact and Powerful) works a treat. Maybe others would benefit from you showing that in another video. At least this way I'm not in the dog house for burning out the vacuum cleaner lol.
I loved the Rube Goldberg appearance (bungee cords and trash bags) and the absolute efficiency of your paver stone lifter. Wonderful.
You always manage to surprise me with your inventions.
I see that you too have construction slippers! The ultimate in comfort and building stability
Fantastic idea! Now that the weeds are gone, periodic application of horticulture strength vinegar should keep them from coming back.
Your patio stone lift / mover is genius! I have had pretty good luck drastically reducing weeds with a polymeric sand in the grout joints. It hardens with moisture - not as hard as concrete so it still has some give for the stones, but keeps weeds from germinating.
OMG! Matthias...that's the most Briliant Contraption!!!
Your inventions make me so happy
this feels like something straight out of a Pat & Mat episode..
Vacuums may be the best lifting solution ever. Izzy Swan found and starting selling these rechargeable hand-held suction devices called Grabo, and has created some adapters and jigs to give them additional uses. Using a Shop-Vac to do the same thing for heavy stuff like pavers is that concept on steroids!
This is what I like about this person, unlike many other makers who only overequip themselves by buying the latest gadget from Rockler, Matthias uses his brain.
That idea is nothing short of AMAZING!!!,
You've had some ingenious ideas and this one ranks right up near the top.
I bet Matthias's neighbors are continuously puzzled by his meddlings.
Under the stones, line the top layer of the gravel with plastic bags. It will create a barrier between the soil and the atmosphere.
Works like a charm on my back patio!
I love your contraption. Excellent idea.
You are definitely a genius. I would have never thought to use a garbage bag to seal it. So smart.
You are so creative! Love to watch your clips very much!
Ingenious idea! 👍
I never think about using shop vacuum cleaner as lifting device!
Probably, I will lift these plates old style - with big crowbar and hands..
Matthias, you are just incredible.
Brilliant!!! I have to build one of these! I only wish I'd seen this before I did a paver project at the house this last summer. It would have saved both time and my back!
I'm astounded by your ingenuity.
Once again...STAGGERING, the level of innovation and intellect you bring to this world.
Clever invention! I use a large weed burner attached to a propane tank. Pressure washer after that and polymeric sand. It still has to be done every few years.
Perfect example of 'work smarter not harder'.
You never fail to amaze me Matthias. You are truly one of a kind.
Try a really find stone dust between the stones. But pack the crap out of it to make it solid.
This is the good old-timey Matthias stuff. Love it!
I've been watching MW channel for a loooong time and this video has just tipped him over into the genius category, well done.
Now that is an excellent example of inventive, lateral thinking.
I never would have thought of that. Absolute genius!