Dry-spreading Sand and Cement as Alternative to Slablayer
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TFPOMR
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Dry-spreading Sand and Cement as Alternative to Slablayer

by TFPOMR » Thu May 10, 2018 1:46 pm

I’m in the (very slow) process of laying a c55m2 patio in my garden.

Last year, I dug out the old crazy-paving/lawn, framed out the area to be slabbed, and filled with compacted MoT1.

I then ran out of money/good weather…

Now that the sun’s appearing, I was planning on laying/compacting a layer of sharp sand on top of the sub-base as a bedding layer, to get things smooth and level, ahead of paying someone to do the actual laying of the slabs.

However… Finances mean I’m contemplating doing it myself.

In the name of an easy life, I was looking at Blue Circle Slablayer (https://www.wickes.co.uk/Blue-Circle-Re ... datasheets) as it doesn’t claim to need mixing (you just empty the bag, sprinkle with water, then pop the slabs down on top – allegedly).

For the space I’m looking at though, it would be prohibitively expensive.

Is there any reason why I couldn’t take the same approach with a sand/cement mix? i.e. Mix it in an appropriate ratio, but dry spread it on top of the sand bedding layer, then wet and lay the slabs?

Would appreciate the thoughts of folk who know what they’re talking about.

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