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Hi
So I’ve removed a dead tree from our block driveway, have smashed up some hardcore in the bottom but now need to quickly stabilise the bricks around the hole so that our cars can drive near it.
I was initially thinking of mortaring the edges of the brick and filling with a decorative gravel.
However, is that going to be strong enough?
Should I just fill it with concrete and if so what’s the best / cheapest / quickest mix I can do? I wondered about postcrete but that might be expensive?
That looks like job done to me - at least that's how it would stay at my house for a few years! 🙂
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^^ thanks muffin man
And yep, it’s been like that a few weeks but yesterday a load of the edge bricks moved when I drove next to it.
It’s only going to get worse if I don’t do something ..
Need to sort those weeds!
Put a roll of carpet in it for a while?
I sincerely hope that is not representative of the state of your lawn
Short of getting more bricks and doing a nice looking job I'd be filling it to near the top with more hardcore then filling and skimming flat with concrete.
Plus that brick at about 9.30 - WTF? Who ever laid that needs flogging....
I don’t have the time / skills to add more bricks alas.
Yes, my lawn is far worse.
I hadn’t even noticed the dodgy brick.
So, wot about concrete to an inch from the top then decorate slate or something?
Can you get ready mixed concrete that isn’t postcrete?!
(If not ready mix then what ratio of cement / sand / ballast / fairy dust?
The best way to hold then is probably concrete (mortar will break)
Either half full then top with something nicer looking or a "ring" tapering from near the full hieght of the bricks down to nothing and then fill the rest with something nicer looking.
Bit like this:
\_______/
Have you thought about putting a tree in there? 😈
Can you get ready mixed concrete that isn’t postcrete?!
If you're sticking something on top, just use postcrete, only take a few bags. Fill up as much space as possible with any old rubble you have lying around. You can get a reasonably nice finish with postcrete, just smooth it over with a plasters trowel thing (although plasters would wince seeing you do that, they get very fussy about edges).
How many bags of postcrete do we think? It’s about a metre diameter?
Also. Could I just add something to the 2 bags of mortar mix instead?
I would have liked to have replaced the tree but it also takes up a parking spot and then there’s roots lifting the (already awful) block paving to worry about …
I sincerely hope that is not representative of the state of your lawn
It's better than @sirromj 's 🤣
Plus that brick at about 9.30
my watch is digital 🤷♂️
I would buy one of those compass round slabs and put that in the centre as a bit of feature!
Yes ready mixed concrete mix is a thing. It should generally be stronger than postcrete and slower setting and less runny. I've used it before for filling small holes and it's works well and saves faff for diy stuff.
Wickes / B and Q etc. sell it.
Blue circle have a tool for estimating how many bags you need on their website.
https://tarmac-bluecircle.co.uk/multi-purpose-concrete/
Turn it into an income stream by constructing a wishing well
I wouldn't put concrete in it yet, as it may have more settling to come. Fill with 10mm gravel, slightly higher than the paving. Once you drive over it, it will compact and support the paving. Leave it like that for 6 months, topping up the gravel if necessary, then do a permanent fix.
Put a roll of carpet in it for a while?
god damn it.
If it were me, I'd be getting a landscaper round to take out the circle, any cut bricks and fill in the gaps with new blocks.
Actually, I'd do it myself for an area that size, but you said you can't. Have you looked on YouTube for some instructions? It would be almost as easy as your filling project and probably as cheap. No cutting needed and as long as the base is level they're just plopped in and bedded down a little.
Given the state of the weeds, maybe just Nuke the whole thing from orbit.....
Pond, definitely a pond.
a tree would look good in that space...
monoblocking up the hole is probably the best bet, with a bit of a dig out to remove organic matter to a foot or so below otherwise as it decomposes it will sink.
What greybeard said, except that would probably do as the permanent fix.
Forget concrete, just fill it with type 1 mot and let it settle then once settled cover with what ever stones/slate you think look best.
You'll have trouble filling it in with blocks unless you own a grinder .
Block paving and weeds you'll never rid it once it starts...you can pull the weeds as much as you like but after 5 years or so of the blocks being down , mud has accumulated and the weeds roots are long, so unless you take up the whole drive it's something that's going to need constant pruning
I’d fill entirely with concrete and apply a brushed finish.
Measure as a square to get the volume of concrete, there are plenty of online calculators to help you with the component material quantities.
Also get on to YouTube for loads of videos of laying and finishing concrete.
With a methodical approach it isn’t a difficult job for a small spot like that.
Oh and do try to replace those two cut blocks!