9455 replies to this topic

[Zac]

Ok Zac, you really need to commit if I'm going to bother. Hard work starting with lawn. Thats gotta go. Poison it.

Yeah I have started with it man... I've wanted to kill the grass, but worried if I poison the grass, the poison in the soil might seep down to other areas of the yard where I don't want the grass dead, so maybe I could what garry said and dig it up?

[peteRS]

 

As you can tell, I have no idea... LOL! I should google this...

 And this.

[Liberty]

Exactly. And if you want to go the extra mile, and pay a little more, there is gap sand that you can buy with a sort of silica in it. This helps as a sealer for the gaps which will prevent weeds and grass to grow in the gaps.

 

Cutting the grass out in the area you want to pave is the same as killing it, but it does prevent any poisons or chemicals from seeping into the dirt underneath, and potentially killing the grass/root systems around the job.

[Zac]

Edit...what Gaz said. Dig that shit up, lay a deep base of fine blue metal dust, level that out, then pave on top and finish with gap sand. Done.

Cool.... so remove grass, 

 

Deep base of blue metal dust(?) whatever it is... how deep?

 

Level out... do I need a leveler or something? Can I hire from bunnings?

 

And pavers, then gap sand... 

 

 

Ok... got to find all these things... sand and soil places will have this stuff?

[peteRS]

Yeah I have started with it man... I've wanted to kill the grass, but worried if I poison the grass, the poison in the soil might seep down to other areas of the yard where I don't want the grass dead, so maybe I could what garry said and dig it up?

 

Glyphosate (the common active ingredient in Round-up and Zero etc.) is non active in soil. Hence its popularity as a plant poison. It's 2013 Zac.

[peteRS]

Cool.... so remove grass, 

 

Deep base of blue metal dust(?) whatever it is... how deep?

 

Level out... do I need a leveler or something? Can I hire from bunnings?

 

And pavers, then gap sand... 

 

 

Ok... got to find all these things... sand and soil places will have this stuff?

 

[Liberty]

If it were me, I'd go about it like this:

1. Remove grass from where you want to pave, this is also cheaper as you won't have to buy the poison.
2. Base of blue metal dust as Pete suggested or even river sand will do the job.
3. Level it out, and properly. The more patience you have with this step, the easier it will be when laying down the pavers.
4. If you want, go the extra mile and beat it down with a whacker plate. This ensures the base is flat and there are no imperfections, and will ensure the pavers sit perfectly with each other for years.
5. Lay the pavers.
6. Pour the gap sand over the job and use a broom to fill in all the gaps. You could even use a rubber mallet afterwards to ensure all the gap filler is 'vibrated' in, then broom over again.
7. Get rid of or store any leftover gap sand.
8. Job done.
9. Take pics and post on the GT.

Sand and soil places should have everything you need. You can get the whacker plate from any small plant hire place; Able Hire for example. As for the leveler, you can use a long spirit level to achieve this and to ensure you have fall onto the grass when it rains for example. The depth? You would only need about 25 mm for the sand base.

[Zac]

 

Glyphosate (the common active ingredient in Round-up and Zero etc.) is non active in soil. Hence its popularity as a plant poison. It's 2013 Zac.

Haha... thanks man... I know of those things, but married to a hippy, so she doesn't like me using chemicals in the garden, so I was thinking of salt and vinegar, but that is too all over the place... so I think I will just dig the grass up without killing it first... more work, but will keep the wife happy...

[Morgan]

Lol Pete!

 

Yes Sack - sand and soil place would be the place to start

 

Blue metal dust is just finely crushed blue metal. Bro tip, cut a nice straight piece of 4x2 to the size of your paved area. Start at one end and glide the 4x2 over the dust with a spirit level ontop.

 

 You'll easily be able to see the gaps underneath the 4x2 where you need to fill with more BM and make sure the whole thing is level.

[Zac]

 

 

Haha.... sorry Pete... I'm not good in the garden, or with many things actually... LOL! I try to learn what I can though...

If it were me, I'd go about it like this:

1. Remove grass from where you want to pave, this is also cheaper as you won't have to buy the poison.
2. Base of blue metal dust as Pete suggested or even river sand will do the job.
3. Level it out, and properly. The more patience you have with this step, the easier it will be when laying down the pavers.
4. If you want, go the extra mile and beat it down with a whacker plate. This ensures the base is flat and there are no imperfections, and will ensure the pavers sit perfectly with each other for years.
5. Lay the pavers.
6. Pour the gap sand over the job and use a broom to fill in all the gaps. You could even use a rubber mallet afterwards to ensure all the gap filler is 'vibrated' in, then broom over again.
7. Get rid of or store any leftover gap sand.
8. Job done.
9. Take pics and post on the GT.

Sand and soil places should have everything you need. You can get the whacker plate from any small plant hire place; Able Hire for example. As for the leveler, you can use a long spirit level to achieve this and to ensure you have fall onto the grass when it rains for example.

Cool... thanks Garry... I'll email myself a copy of what you posted and will follow that when I have the time... and will check out all the stuff I need at a sand and soil place near my house...

Lol Pete!

 

Yes Sack - sand and soil place would be the place to start

 

Blue metal dust is just finely crushed blue metal. Bro tip, cut a nice straight piece of 4x2 to the size of your paved area. Start at one end and glide the 4x2 over the dust with a spirit level ontop.

 

 You'll easily be able to see the gaps underneath the 4x2 where you need to fill with more BM and make sure the whole thing is level.

Thanks for that too Morg... Its going to my first outdoor DIY, so it won't come up great, but I'll try my best, so anything helps

[Liberty]

No worries man. Always happy to help.

 

Blue metal dust is just finely crushed blue metal. Bro tip, cut a nice straight piece of 4x2 to the size of your paved area. Start at one end and glide the 4x2 over the dust with a spirit level ontop.

 

 You'll easily be able to see the gaps underneath the 4x2 where you need to fill with more BM and make sure the whole thing is level.

 

+1.

 

Here is a useful link I found that will help go through a lot of the steps Zac; http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Pavers.

[mark300]

orrr lazy man/NFI how to do this steps to doing it:

1. open yellow pages to landscapers
2. phone landscaper and employ said landscaper
3. describe scope of work that is desired
4. have landscaper complete said work
5. pay said landscaper

[peteRS]

I forget you work in an office Zac. Have fun.

[Liberty]

I'd seriously be willing to do it for you Zac. Shouldn't take long at all depending on size obviously. And if you pay for all the supplies, you can just pay me to do all the work.

[mark300]

I forget you work in an office Zac. Have fun.

 

he should probably use my steps then hey pete!

[Zac]

orrr lazy man/NFI how to do this steps to doing it:

1. open yellow pages to landscapers
2. phone landscaper and employ said landscaper
3. describe scope of work that is desired
4. have landscaper complete said work
5. pay said landscaper

Haha... Well I thought it would be nice for me to do something in the house... and then I can step back and say I did it... LOL!

 

Mini project I guess...

 

I did lay the floorboards in my old house and was proud of that... Haha

 

Plus, should work out to being cheaper than paying someone to do it... maybe...

[mark300]

Haha... Well I thought it would be nice for me to do something in the house... and then I can step back and say I did it... LOL!

 

Mini project I guess...

 

I did lay the floorboards in my old house and was proud of that... Haha

 

Plus, should work out to being cheaper than paying someone to do it... maybe...

 

cheaper, yes.

but my way is less labour intensive and less frustrating

[Zac]

I forget you work in an office Zac. Have fun.

Haha... yes... office... and grew up in Singapore... so lived in apartments...

 

This is my own house, with my own backyard, so I thought I should try to do something...

 

Even mowing the lawn for me was a big deal... lol... I know... lame...

[Liberty]

Most definitely it would. You save on labour.

[Zac]

I'd seriously be willing to do it for you Zac. Shouldn't take long at all depending on size obviously. And if you pay for all the supplies, you can just pay me to do all the work.

Haha... thanks for the offer... LOL!

 

I'll either talk to you, or take Mark's advice is I screw up royally... but I want to try this out myself first... just coz....