Problem with this video that annoys all the British builders and expexr DIY people out there is that she doesn't stop for a tea break every 30 mins and it's done too quick. Needs to take at least 2 weeks and that doesn't include days for not turning up
😂 How can you post this comment with so much cut out? You didn't mention: - Turning up 4 hours later than "we'll be starting nice and early, so can someone be awake to let us in?" - Taking a lunch break after 34 minutes of moving tools around. - Leaving some work for the customer to complete. - Leaving everything as a mess at the end.
You cant compact type 1 by walking on it, even if it is baby steps!! If you dont get the foundation right, regardless of "dot & dab" on the slabs, it wont last
Dot and dab = easy way to crack, full bed is what you need if you don’t want to replace them in the future, screed or full bed only and use a small piece of pipe or something other than stabbing the dry mix between the slabs otherwise the sun will get on it and it’ll just crumble and pull away easy
Some of the comments are missing the point of the video. It's a D.I.Y. video. This video is going to give confidence to people that wouldn't normally even think about a project like this. If you used a plate compactor that a lone would put some people off. I like the vid, it's inspiring.
without a doubt. if you have a little bit of courage, on a weekend, this is very achievable. not the "pro" way to do it but it a tiny project that will probably need to be replaced in a few years but so what!!
Thank God, somebody got the point. It's not only much easier for newbies that way, you also have to keep in mind, that there are people out there with different conditions. E.g., my apartment is situated on a raised ground floor within a block of apartments. So, there are several steps to get to it and also several steps down from the apartment to the garden. Neither our block nor any close by has any kind of direct entrance, like a driveway, to the garden complex. You want to use a wacker plate or other heavy machine? Good luck with that!
So in other words, it's a D.I.Y job. A bodge, which will look like a bodge within weeks of being laid. Why waste time and money doing half a job that will need to be done properly eventually?
Laughed my head off reading all the usual 'experts' slagging off the video. You don't need to whacker a little patio - she's only gonna use it to 'serve cocktails' not park a tank!!!!!!!! Crikey, you don't even need to mortar it , I laid mine on sharp sand years ago after treading the hardcore down wiv me feet and guess what.... we're still serving cocktails on it no problems whatsoever, solid as rock, nothing has moved. Stop tryin to sound clever everyone, you're doin more harm than good ;)
Its the pointing it will fall away in the gaps , and the reverse staining you can get from not having all the base covered, 5 spotting is just not a way to do it when sand and cement is so cheap ? The video is not let's have a crack it's a tutorial and it's not the best way, rest is fine and passable but she should of used a full sand or muck bed period, it might last but Its better knowing it will last
That was some really bad advice! Never use 5 spotting it will make the flags more vulnerable to crack and also some natural stone will absorb the water and will sometimes show up through the slabs. Compacting the sub base with your feet will never work either. Using a whacker plate is essential. You should really compact the bare ground before and then when the hardcore is in go over it twice.
For Indian sandstone you need to lay on a sharp sand and cement bed and throw your pointing in as you go to bond with the wet bed rather than a separate wet joint on a dry bed .Never dab and dob , water gets in too easy and knackers it within a couple of years - imo
You dont throw the pointing is as you go it fill soak the bed and potential cause a slab to rock in places were the water washes through the sand. Always wait 1-3days weather dependant
Great and very interesting video i didn't see you lay anything like a barrier to stop weeds coming through. In my garden they would pop through any small gap in the slabs
How NOT to lay pavers. I almost died laughing when she started compacting the base with her feet. Project probably settled and cracked a few days later.
I personally think you only need a Wacker plate for areas with a lot of Traffic like driveways you dont really need one for a lightly used Patio ,i personally prefer the full bed of Mortar under the flags rather than the 5 spot method ,i did my patio 6 years ago on a bed of sand then a bed of mortar and its still looking good with no problems
and water can accumulate underneath in the holes and when it freezes stones can come loose. also when there is a hollow under certain stones there is no support and the larger stone can break under point load. it's the lazy gardeners way.
If all you people that are criticising her are so good and know it all.Then why are you here watching "how to" videos?. Business not that good then I guess.
Really good video Philippa thank you. It’s nice to find a video that’s not American ... where they have a ‘backyard’ the size of a football pitch and they bring a mechanical digger in that they got on special offer at Home ‘Deepo’ (why can’t they pronounce it Deppot. 😄😄😄) 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I still stamp down the sub. Force of habit. These are methods that our dads used to do. Obviously professional pavers have learned new techniques. The last time I did some paving I stuck a broom handle (with nails through it) into a gallon container of wet concrete - and made my own tamper! One time when I was a site labourer there were three other labourers whose job it was to walk around all day long (for a week) tamping down a very long perimeter gravel path using the heads of rakes! There's another idea.
Things that are WRONG 1. Dab Dot Method - Should have used Full Bed 2. Didn't compact the sub base down properly, used body weight method - At very least used sledge and timber block to tamper down tight or compacter 3. Dry Slab Lay, didn't use SBR Slurry Mix - Slurry the back of slabs with SBR slurry to water proof the slabs and get a better stick (SBR slurry is like super glue for slabs) These 3 are crucial for a successful lay, otherwise your stones will lift, come loose, and moisture stains will bleed through the slabs, you can get away with everything else being a little off but the top 3 did's & didn't's above, please please please don't skimp otherwise the patio won't last 1 year
100% Not the way to install this slab!!! Hire a vibration plate Not baby steps!! You must lay a full mix under the slab NOT dots as this slab will crack. If unsure read manufacturers guidelines.
All research from professional DIY sites says DO NOT use blobs for mortar layer, do FULL layer - blobs causes blotching on slab and risks slab breaking.
Causes moisture under the paver so eventually with a good frost it will pop off its bed. After the installation you can see spots appear on the patio where mortar is missing below.
This is the best explanation on how to lay a patio on the internet for people like me who are just starting out. Thanks Philippa you have given me the confidence to give this a go.
Having digested a few of the comments from people who seem to know how to do the job better. The lady is not building a Motorway has she stated it's only going be used for a table and a few chairs with foot traffic and the little dog may lay there to cool off in the hot weather Great video
Ron Cooke doesn’t matter if it’s only for foot traffic unfortunately because she didn’t compact it probably and used dob and dab it’s going to move because of the ground and weather. So if you copy this you are going to pay more to rectify, I’m a landscaper I know I’ve been to peoples houses and seen the aftermath of this.
That's not 'scalpings' it was MOT type 1 Limestone... That means it not made of "old road" it's made of limestone! Also if you use height pegs like this, why not also use them as your laying guide, so instead of hammering them in to 80mm above ground height, leave them 150mm above ground height, lay the sub base (Type 1) to 60mm below top of pegs then hey presto... Just saying... Good video though.
People shouldn't go to great lengths to comment on the mistakes in DIY videos like this. It's a gift, because they'll eventually call us to do it right next season.
Also dot n dab... Very lazy and a bad way of laying any patio.. Slabs will rock and come loose in no time.. FACT!!! I mean.. Why would you dig down 6 inches to put down a shit load of scalpings THAT YOUR NOT EVEN GONA COMPACT PROPERLY. I'm not a hater or a troll. But this is a bad way of doing things people......
I agree.Do the job right first time and it will last.I always over engineer on my jobs .You can land an aircraft on my jobs and know it will last thirty years.
Digging the ground out was probably the only thing you did right! Ground compaction with a whacker plate after dig Geotextile MOT then compact again 5:1 mix with sbr (cuts down on the water to prevent freeze effect) Full bed on the floor no spotting! Prime the flag! Jesus!
Good video nice work . Just laying dots of mortar under the slabs , from experience is not the best . Better to give each slab a full bed using a ridged trowel . Pva adhesive to the back of each slab stops it from popping up . As everything expanses and contracts through heat and cold .
Do not follow this advice. Compacting with your feet is useless. Use a plate compactor. NEVER lay slabs on 'Dabs' of sand and cement. Not only will your slabs crack and move after only a short time, but when it comes to pointing your joints, you will have to use loads of pointing gear to fill the joints and the chances of filling the joints completely, are very slim to say the least. I'd also recommend coating the backs of the slabs with a cement slurry to help them stick and stop any movement. Not entirely essential bit good practice. Well done for having a go yourself though.
How not to do it first use a Wacker plate not u feet and full bed of mix spotting for cowboys let see it in a year when the frost has got under it cause she spotted it in stead of full beds
For those of you about to copy this method, take heed of those saying don't dot and dab. My patio has been down for a mere seven years and I'm having to redo it at present. I layed it myself and started out with a full-bed, then on the advice of a builder neighbour I switch to a dot and dab. I now wish I'd taken photos as the first quarter laid on a solid bed was fine, the rest was loose, broken and rocking. Not sure whether to go with a solid bed or a sharp sand dry bed yet, hence why I'm on here.
you have to aplly sometimes madeup glue like pva mix with cement,down part of the stone,then layit on full bed sharp 5 :1 nearly half dry mortar.lasts ages
Please say that compacting by walking over it was a very bad joke! There is going to be movement in the sub-base, specially if clay, then the base was not deep enough and not compacted enough, hence the fail of the finish product.
not a bad way if your on a small diy or a budget! I would vouch for using a whacker for stone compaction though. i also prefer to do a dry sand/cement screed bed. rather than the motar mix approach... but its personal taste. If doing a motar mix.. dont do 5 spot mix!!(also known as spotting) it leaves voids under the slabs, making them weaker and much higher risk to the pavers cracking and numerous other problems.. use a good layer of mortar all over and gently tap it with a maul using a spirit level if you go idividual bedding method.
Starts well, but gets worse. No fall on the paving/sub-base, the sub-base material is not scalpings it's Type 1 M.o.t, you can't compact using your feet!! And spot bedding is a big no no, so a DIY project which will fail in a relatively short time???
Catalogue of errors I am afraid. Firstly all top soil should have been excavated. Then at least 100mm of sub base should have been installed. Then it should have been mechanically compacted, plate compactor would be ideal. Using timber pegs for level is okay, but need to be removed prior to laying slabs. Then a continuous bed is vital, on a wet mortar bed or a semi dry sand cement screed. The method shown in the video would not last long.
Gavin B Hope you're about pal just wondering if after the sub-base if I could use sharp sand then lay down the flags without a morter bed? advice would be grate.
Jamie Culverston Probably only work with 50mm thick flags laying it straight onto grit sand. I laid my patio straight onto soil (ripped up an old patio and the soil was well compacted) then dot and dabbed with mortar. If it's just for a patio I wouldn't bother messing about with crusher run/MOT/scalpings. Mine's been down years and not budged.
Ben Dover Nice one for the advice Just taking up some old 450x thinking of putting down 350x thinking of just wacking aload of sub-base down then mortar sounds good? it's just paito out side the front door no more then 6sqm.
Jamie Culverston Sounds about right that. Again, if it's just for a patio as long as the sub base is pretty sound you'll be fine. If you can be bothered, full mortar bed but I've always dot and dabbed. When you do the pointing up at the end I normally fill the gap with a dry mix of grit sand and a bit of cement up to the bottom of the flag, let that go off and then do the pointing with soft sand and a bit of cement. I'm CLEARLY no expert but it's never done me any harm.
5 blobs of cement.......hahaha........what an amateur......frogs, growth 'nd shit underneath the patio.....stick to the kitchen sink lasse....that way you won't give people duff info.
Fascinating how she did all that hard work wearing a jacket and a scarf didn't break into a sweat get covered in dust and crap or even look slightly tired she must be a incredibly skilled.
SHE IS GETTING ALL THE BLOKES TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR HER WHILE SHE LOOKS PRETTY FOR THE CAMERA AND DOES THE PRESENTING. YOU ONLY SEE HER TAP THE SLAB A FEW TIMES AND USE A RAKE
Shocking 😲. No whacker plate. Let's just walk all over it and hope for the best. The people didn't even way themselves first to make sure they were weight distributed properly 🤣🤣
Okay I get that this is a DIY channel and it’s suppose to influence incompetent people to give patio laying a go but you shouldn’t dot and dab the mortar bed when you lay slabs, reason being is because there will be hollows underneath which will make the slabs not structurally sound and eventually they’ll work loose and crack from the load. It’s also not a good idea because over time the moisture can rise up through the ground, through the spots of mortar and creating awful damp patches over the surface in areas where the mortar has been dabbed down. Better to just lay them down properly on a full bed of mortar and lightly furrow it to make levelling out much much easier.
This is the worst way to lay slabs! 5 spotting is for amateurs! You leave a void beneath into which insects and dust will move. Eventually the whole thing will start to move. Embarrassing to watch a DIY er trying to come across as a pro.
Spot bedding is likely to result in uneven paving, as the bedding migrates into the spaces. Also it provides an ideal home for ants, and other pests. Paving slabs should be laid on a continuous bedding.
You lay a screeded sand bed or weak mix concrete bed. There are quite a few best practice videos on TH-cam, such as from Marshalls (later ones). Also check out "pavingexpert.com"on the web.
5 inch of hardpack. Thin layer of sand. Like quarter inch. Lay the paver in sand and tap down with mallet or dead blow hammer, use level. Use poly sand for the mortar (gator sand ) look it up. This is the lifetime method and easy. I warranty my work. Get ur dun. Martone landscape pelham nh
4:50 ''horizontally and vertically'' ?? also taking the turf off is not enough, you have to get rid of the top soil, if you are going to do something do it properly, maybe in the future someone might want to park on it, maybe not that job, but someone watching, may do it, sell the house and next guy parks his car there, so stop being so nice people, laying slabs is not for amateurs
If you change the name of video in how not to do a base and how not to lay slabs that will be great , 2 cm of base and a little dance won't do it, and lay a dry slab on 4 trowels of cement its a good advice you dont waste to much cement 😄, but hey it looks good
as a guide for DIYers laying a garden patio this video is OK, however, - dot and dab method is very poor for long term survival as allows water to collect under the slab. it will then freeze and lift the slab off ("delaminate"). Full bed of mortar is by far the recommended way - all subbases will eventually settle, but to delay that moment you cannot over compact a sub-base. If going to the expense of using type 1 (MOT) material, then spend a tad more on hiring a compactor plate. Foor traffic only or not, compact it properly not just "heeling" up and down on it
Been watching the USA Christian landscaper and I must say he does it better using different method. In particular he uses a membrane first and he lays pavers dry but with edging kerbs and sand compressed between joints. I’m not a builder so, it is confusing to know which method to use as I plan a large landscaping job in my garden and wary of UK cowboys. On this video there was no mechanical vibrating compactor only what the chick called little baby feet. You cannot beat someone who really knows what he’s doing. Maybe her patio will last…who knows.
Don’t copy this lady she is teaching you a cowboy way of doing things. Firstly if you don’t compact the hardcore properly your slabs will sink or even move. If you are using 80 mil of hardcore then whack 50 mil then add the extra 30 mil and compact that dry and wet to make sure it is compacted properly the whole way through. As for the dob and dab 🤦🏼♂️ 1, if you do that you will get spots coming through from the cement because of the chemicals 2, you will have cavities so ants and other insects can have a home and eventually loosen the slabs 3, the slabs won’t bond properly and eventually lift 4, weaker slabs can crack because there isn’t a full bed. I can go on and on why you need a full bed of muck just don’t copy this I mean the only thing you want to heel in to compact is soil to turf if you are doing a small area. Oh and lastly never never never have cross joints in your patio never. You know nothing John Snow. (Cowboy) report to trading standards
Yeah..... and in about 2 years time, you can sit on a wonky chair and drink cocktails in amongst al the weeds that have grown through it!!!! Tip 1) always put a membrane down. Tip 2) always tamp the scalping with a Waker Plate. Tip 3) always use a full bed of muck under the slabs. Tip 4)....... Get a professional to lay it!!! There are a few other things you should do but i don't want to appear too anal!! hahaha
Nope, not at all. Those slabs will crack like a badly layed kitchen tile floor. Floor tiles and slabs should have no gaps underneath them. Also, the mot needs to be compacted with a compacter. If you add sand on top of the mot and compact it, you won't need cement, you can lay the slabs straight on top.
Spot bedding is the worst way. Leaves cavities everywhere and does not distribute load. Natural granite stone should have an sbr slurry mix applied to each slab prior to laying. Full mortar bed is the way to go. Proper compactor is also best. All's that will happen with this patio is slabs with stain on top by what's called wicking. Which is moisture and natural salts travelling up through mortar dots. Nice to watch all the same.
please please do not ever spot your slabs ... thats a bodgers way of laying have a flat as screed if possible of mortar or a semi dry mix or grit sand and cement..
Jeezus h! And that is not the way to fill the gaps, it needs to be bone dry so the stuff fills all the gaps caused by the spotting underneath otherwise it will all eventually drop out meaning you have to do it over again. The only way to do this is on a full dry mix base, get it level and you won't need to tap every slab, watch good block pavers at work, they know. Lay the slabs hard up against each other anyway so there is no gap! Look at Medieval stone floors, no gaps! And Philippa, I hope you've found something you know about to make videos of by now.
The idiot who laid our patio slabs did not even know how to use the patio grout! He got a packet of 'Easyjoint' and applied dry and he put the instructions in his pocket, I was apprehensive and knew something was not right. I told him that he should apply water as I read the instructions on manufacturer's website but ignored me. After he ran out of grout, he applied cement mix on the path. Now after a week, some slabs have no grout as rain washed it away and on the path rocking slabs!
For a start off you should use a whacker plate to press the Millways down properly not walk on it secondly you don't lay any type of slabs on blobs of mortar they will move and rock this is very unprofessional maybe next time get a professional to do it for you. 🤔
The funniest thing about these and any DIY building videos is how much they piss off the professionals. They can't wait to jump on these videos with comments about what is being done wrong. Hilarious how insecure these pros are who fear losing business...or more likely ripping customers off. About the dot and dab method, I would only do this to the point of knowing the mortar will fill all the gaps as I tap it down. As stated, you really don't want large gaps between the mortar under those slabs.
You don't want any gaps mate. Honestly. I full encourage everyone to give it a go. It's not hard in principle, but it probably took me 2 years to really learn how to do it properly.
All the "british professionals" commenting "it wont last, she should have done X, Z and Y" Id love to know where these "professionals" are! UK tradesmen fail to turn up, charge extortionate fees, while cutting corners at every opportunity and leave you with a substandard product that you could have done 10x better yourself. UK tradesmen make sure you watch these videos until the end before taking on paid jobs and make sure you do X, Z and Y on every damn job!
As a beginner wanting to lay a small few slabs in my garden (not a patio) I liked the video and thought OK seems good to do then........ I read some of the comments about mice living under the gaps... 😩 I've changed my mind lol... Hell no to that lol
Anyone know how much sub-base I would need for a job this size? From what I can work out it would be about 800 Kg of sub-base for a 50mm layer so presumably double that for the 100mm or so used in this example?
As a single woman I'm about to attempt bodging a small patio area.lol I was told by suppliers b and q that they would take slabs to where I want them at back of house....of course they arrived and was like oh no we don't do that. lol good job I've got a sense of humour and laugh at my own trust worthiness .😉 looking at other comments I assume I'm going to get ants moving sand in protest or it all washing away.lol live and learn.
Good job but won't last. Never dot dab slabs and always use a whacker plate for base and lay t he base in two sections. First one at 50mm and compact then second one at 50mm and compact.
Dots are a complete no no, especially with Indian sandstone paving as the salts in the cement will migrate through the slabs and show on the surface. Slabs should never be laid on dots as water can build up in the voids and if it freezes it will lift the slabs. Before you put videos like this on ask the professionals how to do the job correctly
My only advice is you should have hired a Wacker plate to propely compress the scalpings, it'll sink more just from body weight compacting it, making the slabs sink too causing puddling and hairline joint cracks for rain to enter and in winter frost to form pushing out and removing the joints from the patio.
Hi my Gardner is putting slabs down for the whole garden, he said he will use sharp sand and cement as the base to lay the slabs down.Wouldnt this be a problem later as the slabs will start to sink in after a while with rainfall etc... i suggested he uses stones however he said this is only needed if there was a car been driven on top of it? Please help
it`s all very well everyone critising but I am on a budget and have managed to get 22 large flags and I havent a clue what i am doing if it were upto me i would just put the flags down on compacted earth as its mainly for laying in front of my shed so i can get my motorbike in and out of the garden instead of mud and dirt .
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Problem with this video that annoys all the British builders and expexr DIY people out there is that she doesn't stop for a tea break every 30 mins and it's done too quick. Needs to take at least 2 weeks and that doesn't include days for not turning up
Do you know my builder by any chance coz you’ve described him perfectly.
😂
Feel free to do it her way, you'll be calling a professional next year to put it right.
@@malpaslandscapes8444 nope 😉
😂 How can you post this comment with so much cut out?
You didn't mention:
- Turning up 4 hours later than "we'll be starting nice and early, so can someone be awake to let us in?"
- Taking a lunch break after 34 minutes of moving tools around.
- Leaving some work for the customer to complete.
- Leaving everything as a mess at the end.
You cant compact type 1 by walking on it, even if it is baby steps!!
If you dont get the foundation right, regardless of "dot & dab" on the slabs, it wont last
Dot and dab = easy way to crack, full bed is what you need if you don’t want to replace them in the future, screed or full bed only and use a small piece of pipe or something other than stabbing the dry mix between the slabs otherwise the sun will get on it and it’ll just crumble and pull away easy
I tought I'm the only one thinking like that.Leave away dot&dab leave enough space for 🐜
Yep the times that I gone over peoples work doing it that way water gets underneath and they work lose and put surry on back of slabs
Some of the comments are missing the point of the video. It's a D.I.Y. video. This video is going to give confidence to people that wouldn't normally even think about a project like this. If you used a plate compactor that a lone would put some people off. I like the vid, it's inspiring.
without a doubt. if you have a little bit of courage, on a weekend, this is very achievable. not the "pro" way to do it but it a tiny project that will probably need to be replaced in a few years but so what!!
Thank God, somebody got the point.
It's not only much easier for newbies that way, you also have to keep in mind, that there are people out there with different conditions. E.g., my apartment is situated on a raised ground floor within a block of apartments. So, there are several steps to get to it and also several steps down from the apartment to the garden. Neither our block nor any close by has any kind of direct entrance, like a driveway, to the garden complex. You want to use a wacker plate or other heavy machine? Good luck with that!
So in other words, it's a D.I.Y job. A bodge, which will look like a bodge within weeks of being laid. Why waste time and money doing half a job that will need to be done properly eventually?
John Riggs I’m not disagreeing I’m no expert but it’s been a long time, would be good to see how it’s looking now
@@johnriggs4929 mate it's gonna last a few weeks. The slabs might work loose after a few winters, don't be so dramatic
Spot bedding is the worst thing you can do for new paving slabs.....cue the constant ants nests
Laughed my head off reading all the usual 'experts' slagging off the video.
You don't need to whacker a little patio - she's only gonna use it to 'serve cocktails' not park a tank!!!!!!!!
Crikey, you don't even need to mortar it , I laid mine on sharp sand years ago after treading the hardcore down wiv me feet and guess what.... we're still serving cocktails on it no problems whatsoever, solid as rock, nothing has moved.
Stop tryin to sound clever everyone, you're doin more harm than good ;)
Do you have to lay the Rock? can you just level the dirt and lay bricks??
Same as ;-) I just used the back of a heavy shovel as a whacker... Laid on sharp sand... Butt joints... Not moved in 10yrs... Just sayin'...
you're an idiot if you think just walking on it to compact it is good enough she lost me at that point
Its the pointing it will fall away in the gaps , and the reverse staining you can get from not having all the base covered, 5 spotting is just not a way to do it when sand and cement is so cheap ? The video is not let's have a crack it's a tutorial and it's not the best way, rest is fine and passable but she should of used a full sand or muck bed period, it might last but Its better knowing it will last
Yeah you sound like a right cocktail drinker
It'd be very helpful if you made a list of all the tools and bits that are required for this
Dot and Dab is a terrible idea of it’s going to be used with regular foot flow. Nothing was compacted either.
That was some really bad advice! Never use 5 spotting it will make the flags more vulnerable to crack and also some natural stone will absorb the water and will sometimes show up through the slabs. Compacting the sub base with your feet will never work either. Using a whacker plate is essential. You should really compact the bare ground before and then when the hardcore is in go over it twice.
Well set right there
I found this easy to follow and very helpful. I've just finished my little patio - thanks !
I love this video. Lots of sensible advice and not loads of 'construction talk'. Great thank you. It gives me confidence to give it a go. :-)
For Indian sandstone you need to lay on a sharp sand and cement bed and throw your pointing in as you go to bond with the wet bed rather than a separate wet joint on a dry bed .Never dab and dob , water gets in too easy and knackers it within a couple of years - imo
You dont throw the pointing is as you go it fill soak the bed and potential cause a slab to rock in places were the water washes through the sand. Always wait 1-3days weather dependant
Interesting that the stone variant (no covid pun intended 😁) is affected by the base, and that the dry and wet is affected x
Great and very interesting video i didn't see you lay anything like a barrier to stop weeds coming through. In my garden they would pop through any small gap in the slabs
How NOT to lay pavers. I almost died laughing when she started compacting the base with her feet. Project probably settled and cracked a few days later.
Best and easiest video I have found. A complete amateur over here, now I don’t feel so daunted! Thanks!
I personally think you only need a Wacker plate for areas with a lot of Traffic like driveways you dont really need one for a lightly used Patio ,i personally prefer the full bed of Mortar under the flags rather than the 5 spot method ,i did my patio 6 years ago on a bed of sand then a bed of mortar and its still looking good with no problems
For longevity, the dot and dab method just doesn't cut it. It really needs to be a full bed. Also, you couldn't create a better home for ants!!
and water can accumulate underneath in the holes and when it freezes stones can come loose.
also when there is a hollow under certain stones there is no support and the larger stone can break under point load.
it's the lazy gardeners way.
What is dab and dot
Yes full bed best, a must is type one MOT must be done with a wacker plate, or it'll move, then cracks.
If all you people that are criticising her are so good and know it all.Then why are you here watching "how to" videos?. Business not that good then I guess.
I know right? They should all just comment listing their favorite local landscape gardening service!!
Really good video Philippa thank you. It’s nice to find a video that’s not American ... where they have a ‘backyard’ the size of a football pitch and they bring a mechanical digger in that they got on special offer at Home ‘Deepo’ (why can’t they pronounce it Deppot. 😄😄😄) 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hahahaha 😆🤣😅🤣
I still stamp down the sub. Force of habit. These are methods that our dads used to do. Obviously professional pavers have learned new techniques. The last time I did some paving I stuck a broom handle (with nails through it) into a gallon container of wet concrete - and made my own tamper! One time when I was a site labourer there were three other labourers whose job it was to walk around all day long (for a week) tamping down a very long perimeter gravel path using the heads of rakes! There's another idea.
Ive always used rakes as well for tamping down no wackers in them days
ronatholl its bullshit, you dont need a wacker. just firm ground and a strong, thick bed of mortar mix (3:1 shaprt sand/cement).
How about rolling a sack trolley around with a few bags of sand on it?
Things that are WRONG
1. Dab Dot Method - Should have used Full Bed
2. Didn't compact the sub base down properly, used body weight method - At very least used sledge and timber block to tamper down tight or compacter
3. Dry Slab Lay, didn't use SBR Slurry Mix - Slurry the back of slabs with SBR slurry to water proof the slabs and get a better stick (SBR slurry is like super glue for slabs)
These 3 are crucial for a successful lay, otherwise your stones will lift, come loose, and moisture stains will bleed through the slabs, you can get away with everything else being a little off but the top 3 did's & didn't's above, please please please don't skimp otherwise the patio won't last 1 year
Hire a wacker plate, it is better for compaction.
Walking us free Wacker plate costs money
Make a hand tamper out of wood
@@alizcool1 but not enough compacted.
Baby steps! Wacka plate my dear. That'll look like crazy paving when it sinks and cracks
@Peter Evans Not correct.
@Peter Evans yeah okay Pete
100% Not the way to install this slab!!!
Hire a vibration plate Not baby steps!!
You must lay a full mix under the slab NOT dots as this slab will crack. If unsure read manufacturers guidelines.
All research from professional DIY sites says DO NOT use blobs for mortar layer, do FULL layer - blobs causes blotching on slab and risks slab breaking.
Causes moisture under the paver so eventually with a good frost it will pop off its bed. After the installation you can see spots appear on the patio where mortar is missing below.
This is the best explanation on how to lay a patio on the internet for people like me who are just starting out. Thanks Philippa you have given me the confidence to give this a go.
It’s been two years now, how did your patio come along?
'walking down' the sub-base is awfully amateur. This job needed a plate compactor.
"amateur" yet ancient roads still in existence today didn't use a plate compactor.
Dorian Leakey no they used to pull a roller
is it just me or is this possibly the worst method ever for laying slabs?
hardstyle mystyle agreed
Well I’m glad you’re all here in the comments, guess il find another video lol
Vaping Jay bored of being indoors aswell mate? Lol
Good video, doesn't over complicate the job in a way that could put off novice DIYers. I'll give this method a go
Totally agree
I advise first to watch the Christian landscaper method … but only if you want your patio to last.
Having digested a few of the comments from people who seem to know how to do the job better. The lady is not building a Motorway has she stated it's only going be used for a table and a few chairs with foot traffic and the little dog may lay there to cool off in the hot weather Great video
Ron Cooke doesn’t matter if it’s only for foot traffic unfortunately because she didn’t compact it probably and used dob and dab it’s going to move because of the ground and weather. So if you copy this you are going to pay more to rectify, I’m a landscaper I know I’ve been to peoples houses and seen the aftermath of this.
Dot method is perfect for cracks later on
This is a DIY ant colony housing estate!!
That's not 'scalpings' it was MOT type 1 Limestone... That means it not made of "old road" it's made of limestone! Also if you use height pegs like this, why not also use them as your laying guide, so instead of hammering them in to 80mm above ground height, leave them 150mm above ground height, lay the sub base (Type 1) to 60mm below top of pegs then hey presto... Just saying... Good video though.
People shouldn't go to great lengths to comment on the mistakes in DIY videos like this. It's a gift, because they'll eventually call us to do it right next season.
Or do it right and save loads of money.
Or......get a wacker plate.....
Baby steps ffs!!!!! Really!!!!!!
Also dot n dab... Very lazy and a bad way of laying any patio.. Slabs will rock and come loose in no time.. FACT!!! I mean.. Why would you dig down 6 inches to put down a shit load of scalpings THAT YOUR NOT EVEN GONA COMPACT PROPERLY.
I'm not a hater or a troll. But this is a bad way of doing things people......
I agree.Do the job right first time and it will last.I always over engineer on my jobs .You can land an aircraft on my jobs and know it will last thirty years.
+glenn dutton
100% .....my work is guaranteed so there's no way I'm Gona do it twice 👍👍
Full bed it should be laid on not dot and dab
Digging the ground out was probably the only thing you did right!
Ground compaction with a whacker plate after dig
Geotextile
MOT then compact again
5:1 mix with sbr (cuts down on the water to prevent freeze effect)
Full bed on the floor no spotting!
Prime the flag!
Jesus!
How much MOT?
Great video...gonna be doing this in a couple of weeks. She makes it look achievable for novice DIYers like me
Full cement base not dots
Good video nice work . Just laying dots of mortar under the slabs , from experience is not the best . Better to give each slab a full bed using a ridged trowel . Pva adhesive to the back of each slab stops it from popping up . As everything expanses and contracts through heat and cold .
Add pva to the water you mix the mortar with, brush the pva/water mix on to the bottom of the slabs.
Do not follow this advice. Compacting with your feet is useless. Use a plate compactor.
NEVER lay slabs on 'Dabs' of sand and cement. Not only will your slabs crack and move after only a short time, but when it comes to pointing your joints, you will have to use loads of pointing gear to fill the joints and the chances of filling the joints completely, are very slim to say the least. I'd also recommend coating the backs of the slabs with a cement slurry to help them stick and stop any movement. Not entirely essential bit good practice. Well done for having a go yourself though.
Not compacting the sub base and not laying a full mortar bed… this is cowboy level work.
dabs under the slabs aren't ideal , you will end up with ants taking up residence quickly
How not to do it first use a Wacker plate not u feet and full bed of mix spotting for cowboys let see it in a year when the frost has got under it cause she spotted it in stead of full beds
The baby steps thing is only any good on top soil,prior to laying turf. I have never seen it done on patio sub base before.
correct, you need a wacker
Wrong way to lay natural Indian slate paving
It should be a picture frame not 5 spots of mortor
For those of you about to copy this method, take heed of those saying don't dot and dab. My patio has been down for a mere seven years and I'm having to redo it at present. I layed it myself and started out with a full-bed, then on the advice of a builder neighbour I switch to a dot and dab. I now wish I'd taken photos as the first quarter laid on a solid bed was fine, the rest was loose, broken and rocking.
Not sure whether to go with a solid bed or a sharp sand dry bed yet, hence why I'm on here.
you have to aplly sometimes madeup glue like pva mix with cement,down part of the stone,then layit on full bed sharp 5 :1 nearly half dry mortar.lasts ages
Could you not lay the MOT with a slight downfall instead of level so then you can just lay your slabs level and they will naturally have a downfall ?
Please say that compacting by walking over it was a very bad joke!
There is going to be movement in the sub-base, specially if clay, then the base was not deep enough and not compacted enough, hence the fail of the finish product.
not a bad way if your on a small diy or a budget! I would vouch for using a whacker for stone compaction though. i also prefer to do a dry sand/cement screed bed. rather than the motar mix approach... but its personal taste.
If doing a motar mix.. dont do 5 spot mix!!(also known as spotting) it leaves voids under the slabs, making them weaker and much higher risk to the pavers cracking and numerous other problems..
use a good layer of mortar all over and gently tap it with a maul using a spirit level if you go idividual bedding method.
Starts well, but gets worse. No fall on the paving/sub-base, the sub-base material is not scalpings it's Type 1 M.o.t, you can't compact using your feet!! And spot bedding is a big no no, so a DIY project which will fail in a relatively short time???
WRONG ALWAYS TAK YOU BASE TO THE CLAY THEN USE CRUSHER RUN AND COMPACT EVERY 12 INCHES. THAT WILL CRACK CONCRETE IF NOT TAKEN TO THE CLAY.
How would you tak it to the clay please? X
I've heard that dots allow ants to build nests
Catalogue of errors I am afraid. Firstly all top soil should have been excavated. Then at least 100mm of sub base should have been installed. Then it should have been mechanically compacted, plate compactor would be ideal. Using timber pegs for level is okay, but need to be removed prior to laying slabs. Then a continuous bed is vital, on a wet mortar bed or a semi dry sand cement screed. The method shown in the video would not last long.
Gavin B Hope you're about pal just wondering if after the sub-base if I could use sharp sand then lay down the flags without a morter bed? advice would be grate.
Jamie Culverston Probably only work with 50mm thick flags laying it straight onto grit sand. I laid my patio straight onto soil (ripped up an old patio and the soil was well compacted) then dot and dabbed with mortar. If it's just for a patio I wouldn't bother messing about with crusher run/MOT/scalpings. Mine's been down years and not budged.
Ben Dover Nice one for the advice Just taking up some old 450x thinking of putting down 350x thinking of just wacking aload of sub-base down then mortar sounds good? it's just paito out side the front door no more then 6sqm.
Jamie Culverston Sounds about right that. Again, if it's just for a patio as long as the sub base is pretty sound you'll be fine. If you can be bothered, full mortar bed but I've always dot and dabbed. When you do the pointing up at the end I normally fill the gap with a dry mix of grit sand and a bit of cement up to the bottom of the flag, let that go off and then do the pointing with soft sand and a bit of cement. I'm CLEARLY no expert but it's never done me any harm.
Well the wife with a fat arse i couldn't think of a better way of putting it, as the guy described only thing to add is he married her
What does she mean when she says check the level of the slab Horizontally and Vertically , what the hell does that mean ...
Oh come on, you know excactly what she meant, on both axis x and y
So many thing wrong with this.
you would genuinely be better just laying it on a full bed of sand, no ants nests and no movement
No ants nests with sand 🤦♂️
I was scrolling through, and saw “DIY how to pay laying slavs” 😂
whacker plate? edges look unfinished. OK for a diy have a go I suppose, but wouldn't have been much more work to do a proper job tbh.
5 blobs of cement.......hahaha........what an amateur......frogs, growth 'nd shit underneath the patio.....stick to the kitchen sink lasse....that way you won't give people duff info.
Fascinating how she did all that hard work wearing a jacket and a scarf didn't break into a sweat get covered in dust and crap or even look slightly tired she must be a incredibly skilled.
What about the hollow spots under each stone? Shouldn't these all be fully bedded with a grip primer on the back of the slabs?
SHE IS GETTING ALL THE BLOKES TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR HER WHILE SHE LOOKS PRETTY FOR THE CAMERA AND DOES THE PRESENTING. YOU ONLY SEE HER TAP THE SLAB A FEW TIMES AND USE A RAKE
+Superutubeking Be fair to her, she's only a woman ;-)
Shocking 😲.
No whacker plate. Let's just walk all over it and hope for the best. The people didn't even way themselves first to make sure they were weight distributed properly 🤣🤣
Okay I get that this is a DIY channel and it’s suppose to influence incompetent people to give patio laying a go but you shouldn’t dot and dab the mortar bed when you lay slabs, reason being is because there will be hollows underneath which will make the slabs not structurally sound and eventually they’ll work loose and crack from the load. It’s also not a good idea because over time the moisture can rise up through the ground, through the spots of mortar and creating awful damp patches over the surface in areas where the mortar has been dabbed down. Better to just lay them down properly on a full bed of mortar and lightly furrow it to make levelling out much much easier.
This is the worst way to lay slabs! 5 spotting is for amateurs! You leave a void beneath into which insects and dust will move. Eventually the whole thing will start to move.
Embarrassing to watch a DIY er trying to come across as a pro.
Spot bedding is likely to result in uneven paving, as the bedding migrates into the spaces. Also it provides an ideal home for ants, and other pests. Paving slabs should be laid on a continuous bedding.
You lay a screeded sand bed or weak mix concrete bed. There are quite a few best practice videos on TH-cam, such as from Marshalls (later ones). Also check out "pavingexpert.com"on the web.
5 inch of hardpack. Thin layer of sand. Like quarter inch. Lay the paver in sand and tap down with mallet or dead blow hammer, use level. Use poly sand for the mortar (gator sand ) look it up.
This is the lifetime method and easy. I warranty my work.
Get ur dun. Martone landscape pelham nh
hi, any need for membrane/sheeting before putting hardpack/sub base?
@@learnsomethingneweveryday1539 I second this question. Is 5 in of hardpack enough to keep weeds out? Should I add a membrane to keep weeds out?
baby steps? wtf
4:50 ''horizontally and vertically'' ?? also taking the turf off is not enough, you have to get rid of the top soil, if you are going to do something do it properly, maybe in the future someone might want to park on it, maybe not that job, but someone watching, may do it, sell the house and next guy parks his car there, so stop being so nice people, laying slabs is not for amateurs
If you change the name of video in how not to do a base and how not to lay slabs that will be great , 2 cm of base and a little dance won't do it, and lay a dry slab on 4 trowels of cement its a good advice you dont waste to much cement 😄, but hey it looks good
Is this pewdiepies mum?????
How do I divorce my wife ??
Buy a gun, worked for me!!! ---[Foul language has been censored by prison staff]---
@@dickiebird591 is that Dickie? I think I was in the cell next to you, bloody women.
Baby steps? Spot bedding? No! Wacker plate and full bed... You are not showing the best method, just the easiest method.
as a guide for DIYers laying a garden patio this video is OK, however,
- dot and dab method is very poor for long term survival as allows water to collect under the slab. it will then freeze and lift the slab off ("delaminate"). Full bed of mortar is by far the recommended way
- all subbases will eventually settle, but to delay that moment you cannot over compact a sub-base. If going to the expense of using type 1 (MOT) material, then spend a tad more on hiring a compactor plate. Foor traffic only or not, compact it properly not just "heeling" up and down on it
Been watching the USA Christian landscaper and I must say he does it better using different method. In particular he uses a membrane first and he lays pavers dry but with edging kerbs and sand compressed between joints. I’m not a builder so, it is confusing to know which method to use as I plan a large landscaping job in my garden and wary of UK cowboys. On this video there was no mechanical vibrating compactor only what the chick called little baby feet. You cannot beat someone who really knows what he’s doing. Maybe her patio will last…who knows.
How not to lay paving slabs!
Don’t copy this lady she is teaching you a cowboy way of doing things. Firstly if you don’t compact the hardcore properly your slabs will sink or even move. If you are using 80 mil of hardcore then whack 50 mil then add the extra 30 mil and compact that dry and wet to make sure it is compacted properly the whole way through. As for the dob and dab 🤦🏼♂️ 1, if you do that you will get spots coming through from the cement because of the chemicals 2, you will have cavities so ants and other insects can have a home and eventually loosen the slabs 3, the slabs won’t bond properly and eventually lift 4, weaker slabs can crack because there isn’t a full bed. I can go on and on why you need a full bed of muck just don’t copy this I mean the only thing you want to heel in to compact is soil to turf if you are doing a small area. Oh and lastly never never never have cross joints in your patio never. You know nothing John Snow. (Cowboy) report to trading standards
Yeah..... and in about 2 years time, you can sit on a wonky chair and drink cocktails in amongst al the weeds that have grown through it!!!! Tip 1) always put a membrane down. Tip 2) always tamp the scalping with a Waker Plate. Tip 3) always use a full bed of muck under the slabs. Tip 4)....... Get a professional to lay it!!! There are a few other things you should do but i don't want to appear too anal!! hahaha
Nope, not at all. Those slabs will crack like a badly layed kitchen tile floor. Floor tiles and slabs should have no gaps underneath them.
Also, the mot needs to be compacted with a compacter.
If you add sand on top of the mot and compact it, you won't need cement, you can lay the slabs straight on top.
Spot bedding is the worst way. Leaves cavities everywhere and does not distribute load. Natural granite stone should have an sbr slurry mix applied to each slab prior to laying. Full mortar bed is the way to go. Proper compactor is also best. All's that will happen with this patio is slabs with stain on top by what's called wicking. Which is moisture and natural salts travelling up through mortar dots. Nice to watch all the same.
please please do not ever spot your slabs ... thats a bodgers way of laying have a flat as screed if possible of mortar or a semi dry mix or grit sand and cement..
Jeezus h! And that is not the way to fill the gaps, it needs to be bone dry so the stuff fills all the gaps caused by the spotting underneath otherwise it will all eventually drop out meaning you have to do it over again. The only way to do this is on a full dry mix base, get it level and you won't need to tap every slab, watch good block pavers at work, they know. Lay the slabs hard up against each other anyway so there is no gap! Look at Medieval stone floors, no gaps! And Philippa, I hope you've found something you know about to make videos of by now.
complete bodge job you dont lay slabs on on wet mortar spots and you do not just brush in sand and cement to fill the joints ,real poor job
The idiot who laid our patio slabs did not even know how to use the patio grout! He got a packet of 'Easyjoint' and applied dry and he put the instructions in his pocket, I was apprehensive and knew something was not right. I told him that he should apply water as I read the instructions on manufacturer's website but ignored me. After he ran out of grout, he applied cement mix on the path. Now after a week, some slabs have no grout as rain washed it away and on the path rocking slabs!
For a start off you should use a whacker plate to press the Millways down properly not walk on it secondly you don't lay any type of slabs on blobs of mortar they will move and rock this is very unprofessional maybe next time get a professional to do it for you. 🤔
The funniest thing about these and any DIY building videos is how much they piss off the professionals. They can't wait to jump on these videos with comments about what is being done wrong. Hilarious how insecure these pros are who fear losing business...or more likely ripping customers off.
About the dot and dab method, I would only do this to the point of knowing the mortar will fill all the gaps as I tap it down. As stated, you really don't want large gaps between the mortar under those slabs.
You don't want any gaps mate. Honestly. I full encourage everyone to give it a go. It's not hard in principle, but it probably took me 2 years to really learn how to do it properly.
All the "british professionals" commenting "it wont last, she should have done X, Z and Y"
Id love to know where these "professionals" are! UK tradesmen fail to turn up, charge extortionate fees, while cutting corners at every opportunity and leave you with a substandard product that you could have done 10x better yourself.
UK tradesmen make sure you watch these videos until the end before taking on paid jobs and make sure you do X, Z and Y on every damn job!
Well the fact is it won't last. Dot and dab my arse. Wake up simp
Not even wacked the base awful job and not donged up the pointing awful job
As a beginner wanting to lay a small few slabs in my garden (not a patio) I liked the video and thought OK seems good to do then........ I read some of the comments about mice living under the gaps... 😩 I've changed my mind lol... Hell no to that lol
Anyone know how much sub-base I would need for a job this size? From what I can work out it would be about 800 Kg of sub-base for a 50mm layer so presumably double that for the 100mm or so used in this example?
DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ADVISE! Never just dot the muck, slabs can crack and ant nests will form. Always do a full bed
As a single woman I'm about to attempt bodging a small patio area.lol I was told by suppliers b and q that they would take slabs to where I want them at back of house....of course they arrived and was like oh no we don't do that. lol good job I've got a sense of humour and laugh at my own trust worthiness .😉 looking at other comments I assume I'm going to get ants moving sand in protest or it all washing away.lol live and learn.
Good job but won't last. Never dot dab slabs and always use a whacker plate for base and lay t he base in two sections. First one at 50mm and compact then second one at 50mm and compact.
Never dot and dab these slabs this is why these diy videos are bad example of how things should not be done
Dots are a complete no no, especially with Indian sandstone paving as the salts in the cement will migrate through the slabs and show on the surface. Slabs should never be laid on dots as water can build up in the voids and if it freezes it will lift the slabs.
Before you put videos like this on ask the professionals how to do the job correctly
My only advice is you should have hired a Wacker plate to propely compress the scalpings, it'll sink more just from body weight compacting it, making the slabs sink too causing puddling and hairline joint cracks for rain to enter and in winter frost to form pushing out and removing the joints from the patio.
A lot of this is not right. 80mm base not enough, mortar bed isn't full etc etc and you can't heel in a sub base for God's sake it's not turfing
Something tells me those lads done99% of that patio and I bet she still didnt get the brews in :)
Hi my Gardner is putting slabs down for the whole garden, he said he will use sharp sand and cement as the base to lay the slabs down.Wouldnt this be a problem later as the slabs will start to sink in after a while with rainfall etc... i suggested he uses stones however he said this is only needed if there was a car been driven on top of it? Please help
Only cowboys use dots of mortar and why did you not use a compaction plate for hardcore and what was all them pegs about
it`s all very well everyone critising but I am on a budget and have managed to get 22 large flags and I havent a clue what i am doing if it were upto me i would just put the flags down on compacted earth as its mainly for laying in front of my shed so i can get my motorbike in and out of the garden instead of mud and dirt .