Can you leave sub-base in the rain?

Rain: Rain stops play – damp sand won’t brush! Dealing with sodden or submerged sub-grades and sub-bases. Blacktop (tarmacadam) and asphalt can be laid during light precipitation, but should not be laid over areas of standing water.

Should I wet sub-base before compacting?

Compact the sub-base after each lift; check the moisture level of the sub-base before compacting – a handful of material should hold together when squeezed. If not moist enough, use the water in the onboard water tank (if available) or a garden hose to dampen it, but be careful not to saturate it.

How do you protect mortar from rain?

You can protect mortar from rain by just placing a plastic drape or a tarp over the mortar. Bear in mind that in the mortar a slow chemical reaction is taking place which will eventually harden it.

Will mortar dry in the rain?

Mortar should be kept moist for 36 hours to allow it to fully cure. However, a heavy rain may wash the lime out of the mortar, weakening the bond between the bricks and the mortar. If the weather is warm, dry and windy, the mortar may dry too rapidly, pulling away from the bricks and crumbling.

How much does mot1 compress?

MOT Type 1 (DTp1) forms the sub-base for all paving projects, for both patio paving and driveway paving. It is usual to lay MOT Type 1 at a compacted depth of 100mm for most patio projects and at a compacted depth of 150mm for most domestic driveways. Compaction should be achieved using a wacka plate.

Does it matter if type 1 gets wet?

It will be better for the rain if it was compacted first, (you could have had a problem if you’d tried to compact it when it was soaked).

What can I use instead of a plate compactor?

An ordinary sledgehammer is a better hand-operated tool for tamping. Handle vertical, lift and drop, repeat. Doing a good job with one is tedious but quite possible if you prefer not to rent a powered plate compactor. For something like compacting around a fencepost, an iron digging bar can be used to compact.

How do you compact pavers without a plate compactor?

How to Compact Pavers without a Plate Compactor

1. Step 1: protective clothing. Before starting work, you should put on the correct protective clothing.
2. Step 2: prepare the substrate.
3. Step 3: create a layer of frost protection.
4. Step 4: Build the base course.
5. Step 5: Apply a layer of sand.
6. Step 6: clean the vibrating plate.

What happens if you dont compact sub base?

Each time a vehicle pulls into a garage and stops, that action creates a plate compactor effect. If the backfill under the slab has not been properly compacted, the structural fill will eventually settle, leaving voids.

How long does patio mortar take to dry?

Once laid, the patio should be left for around 24 hours to allow the bedding mortar to harden and should not be walked on.