Ramping A Path

[Onoff]

Trying to put the garden back together after trenching for the new supply to the garage. I'm going to edge the unkempt area with sleepers to contain it.

I've a slabbed path runs from the house to the front of the garage. There's always been a step down from the rough old path/patio by the house.

I'm thinking to make it so the first 3 slabs slope up to the house.

Cat for scale:

Sans le chat:

I originally dug a trench for the path. That had compacted hard core in the base. The side nearest the small slab on its own was haunched. The block pavers were laid on a concrete base. The slabs were then laid on a 4:1 sharp sand /cement dry bed and it was all whacker plate levelled.

Because of digging out for the cable trench, the slab nearest the path, the one sloping down is basically on mud.

Do I build a ramp out of rubble, or do I put in some sloping formwork and fill it with mass concrete or a rubble concrete mix?

I never used to have to ask these questions before, I just could/did.

Plenty of rubble from another ill fated, unfinished project:

 

[Dapph2]

That looks exactly like my rubble for the use of pile but a fair bit smaller .

If it were me ..... I'd take out some soil at the shallow end of the slope , lay in a full layer of rubble ,smashing up any big lumps and stick a baton over the top to ensure you will have 3inches or more of concrete over it . Whack several vertical rebar stakes in the area to prevent the slab moving and again make sure there is 3 inches of concrete above them . Edge the slope with a sloped board both sides of th slope to give an expansion joint against the wall the other edging strip to get a nice finished edge . When almost dry make up a thick pad of sacking , use a wooden float to get it smooth then give it a light rub with the sacking pad to put a slip resisting finish on the top . My rubbed concrete slope is a drop of 16 inches over 38 inches and some 66 inches wide .

 

[gaz1]

i cant tell by much by your pics not enough distance to show what your playing with

but your pathway at side of house is failing or going to fail due to loss of material under it as its already doing it no walls holding the pathway up

but a slope towards the garden in the middle will annoy you as i had the same with a raised garden with 4 steps it was a death trap as it was in the middle of the garden until i turned it sideways

a sideway slope has advantages but with distance

 

[Onoff]

That looks exactly like my rubble for the use of pile but a fair bit smaller .

I've at least seven jumbo bags full elsewhere.

 

[MysterG]

How heavy is your cat

 

[Onoff]

How heavy is your cat

We weighed the white one the other day and he goes 6kg plus.

 

[Onoff]

That looks exactly like my rubble for the use of pile but a fair bit smaller .

If it were me ..... I'd take out some soil at the shallow end of the slope , lay in a full layer of rubble ,smashing up any big lumps and stick a baton over the top to ensure you will have 3inches or more of concrete over it . Whack several vertical rebar stakes in the area to prevent the slab moving and again make sure there is 3 inches of concrete above them . Edge the slope with a sloped board both sides of th slope to give an expansion joint against the wall the other edging strip to get a nice finished edge . When almost dry make up a thick pad of sacking , use a wooden float to get it smooth then give it a light rub with the sacking pad to put a slip resisting finish on the top . My rubbed concrete slope is a drop of 16 inches over 38 inches and some 66 inches wide .

I want the same slabs as the path, up the slope.

 

[Beeezer]

Why don’t you finish one or two projects at a time before starting more?

 

[Turbo]

Why don’t you finish one or two projects at a time before starting more?

That is not the way we do things on this board!
You need to have at least 5 projects in progress, 5 planned projects and be planning 5 more in your head whilst completing the first 5.

 

[Dapph2]

Why don’t you finish one or two projects at a time before starting more?

It's not always as easy as that when building and altering things. Often what was a minor job suddenly be comes and urgent one . It's all about continually reasessing everything sand then prioritizing what is th most urgent .
I have a 1000mm x 500mm white board hanging in my mancupboard with 12 lines of grid across it in permanent marker pen . What ever is written down in white board marker often gets a priority number change . Then when it's done it is wiped off the board

 

[Dapph2]

That is not the way we do things on this board!
You need to have at least 5 projects in progress, 5 planned projects and be planning 5 more in your head whilst completing the first 5.

I tend to do that , having an organised & planned to do life It means I'm rarely ever left just reacting to events, as I'm usually in control of them ..... it makes a big difference and always gives me something to look forward to . 31 years of serious life changing medical retirement pushed me into doing it to survive ..... for me it works well.

 

[Dapph2]

I want the same slabs as the path, up the slope.

OK set the concrete lower let it set three days then use big spot and dabs of plasticised mortar to stick /settle the slabs down to the gradient , pointing the gaps with silver sand & cement powder once the slabs have set in place spray wet then use a simple 15mm copper pipe as a pointing tool to push the fillets of mortar to the edges of the slabs .

 

[Dapph2]

OK set the concrete lower let it set three days then use big spot and dabs of plasticised mortar to stick /settle the slabs down to the gradient , pointing the gaps with dry 50/50 mix of silver sand & cement powder by sweeping it into the cracks once the slabs have set in place . Spray wet the slabs then use a simple 15mm copper pipe as a pointing tool to push the fillets of mortar to the edges of the slabs .

 

[RichardM]

How is the roof doing?

 

[addjunkie]

Sloping path of slabs, ice on a winter morning isnt the best idea……but if for the slope, Id do hardcore whacked base, then build up a concrete base for the blocks and slabs…

 

[Trevorleach]

Sloping path of slabs, ice on a winter morning isnt the best idea……but if for the slope, Id do hardcore whacked base, then build up a concrete base for the blocks and slabs…

My first thought as well, winters morning step out the house and go **** over tit!

 

[dobbslc]

I have a 1000mm x 500mm white board hanging in my mancupboard with 12 lines of grid across it in permanent marker pen . What ever is written down in white board marker often gets a priority number change . Then when it's done it is wiped off the board

What priority do you give to updating the priority board?

 

[Gareth J]

Do you need a ramp for some reason? Accessibility or future proofing for that or something? If not....if it ain't broke...

A reason not to do it is that if it's flatish, you can mow what will presumably be lawn either side, easily. If you make a ramp, you've got two pokey corners that need more work to build/maintain.

 

[8ob]

Do you need a ramp for some reason? Accessibility or future proofing for that or something? If not....if it ain't broke...

A reason not to do it is that if it's flatish, you can mow what will presumably be lawn either side, easily. If you make a ramp, you've got two pokey corners that need more work to build/maintain.

I reckon the longer plan is to displace SWMBO and move machines into the house

Bob

 

[Nomad]

A slope going up to the wall of the house doesn't look the best idea.
Said above a slope with ice or moss & damp is a recipe for disaster, our flt concrete path has moss and is lethal on a damp day.
Can you use the top 3 slabs as flat steps instead of a ramp? Any reason why you need a smooth path?
If you do decide to make a slope, look at ex-council 3x2 conctrete pavers, fit them upside down and at least you get small dimples facing upwards for grip.
We redid my slightly sloping concrete front footpath with a "grooved across" pattern to aid grip, just an idea..

I reckon the longer plan is to displace SWMBO and move machines into the house
Bob

Best to move the top of the slope / pathway a few feet to the right so he can get wheelbarrows & machines onto the driveway without a struggle.