Patio Mortar Bed Thickness Limit
I'm laying a patio.
After digging too deep and having already bought and compacted 5 tonnes of hardcore type 1 for the sub-base, I don't know if I can bear to order/haul in another 1-2 tonnes to bring the sub-base up to the desired level.
How thick can a mortar bed be with a very strong subbase underneath? I am looking to lay a 60-80mm mortar bed in some places to then lay my 18mm patio slabs on top of.
Would 60-80mm be too thick?
18 Answers
Brick point landscaping
0 Reviews
68/80mm is thick but as a whole the paving would be structurally sound as the base of the slab spread evenly on the main area would he solid as long as it was done with a full mortar bed each time, it would cost a bit more as 80mm is a lot to build up but it would never move and would be a solid area to walk on or out anything on.
13th Jun 2022
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TOP LEVEL Landscape
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I wouldn’t recommend doing this the bed size in some cases should be ok aslong as the cement mixture has the correct ratio of sand and cement but in the long run this will slow process down and cost more money always stone up to required height limits You'll need to know the length, width and depth of your coverage area. A rule of thumb for many crushed stone projects is to have a minimum depth of 2 to 4 inches, although some projects require more. For example, a patio that's 12-foot square, with a 2-inch base of crushed stone, will need 0.89 cubic yards.
6th Mar 2023
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SD Groundworks
0 Reviews
60-80mm is fine, obviously it will be a lot cheaper to bring up with type 1 first rather than just use mix
7th Mar 2023
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Cottrell contracts
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Thick mortar bed isn't really a problem it's just expensive and you will find the slabs start moving about on your mortar base when you try laying them when at 80mm or more.
Try using concreting fibers for more strength, if not make a sub base with type one and build up from that
Try using concreting fibers for more strength, if not make a sub base with type one and build up from that
20th Oct 2022
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C&B BUILDERS
27 Reviews, 100% Positive
That is plenty . The mortar bed is fine also
1st Nov 2022
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Benlee groundwork’s
0 Reviews
mortar bed needs to be 30-40mm thick and should enable the slabs, when positioned, to sit 6-10mm high So 60/80mm would be to thick
14th Jan 2023
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It would but it wouldn’t depends on how much mixer you would use
26th Oct 2022
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J W Fencing
0 Reviews
No 60-80mm is not too much as long as your using a nice strong mix to lay on
25th Jan 2023
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+ 42
Is fairly thick. would have a lot of play too but depending on the consistency of mortar
10th Mar 2023
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A7 Premium Fences and Gates
0 Reviews
Hi my names Matt forum A7 Premium Fences and Gates, I also do patio, 80mm thickness of mix isn’t bad it’s more of an overkill and will cost you more in materials, the minimum mix height is 30mm when the thickness is 50mm this doesn’t mean that 80-100mm is wrong just means would cost you more in material, it makes more sense too get another tonne or so of type 1 hardcore as this would be the cheaper way, but if your happy spending more on mix then 80mm is perfectly fine???? hope this helps a little cheers matt
8th May 2023
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Yes this would be too thick and would cause the patio slabs/bricks to sink
6th Jun 2023
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I would use 30/50 mm mortar beds I set my patio of for this size of beds
17th Aug 2023
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Shropshire plant hire Ltd
0 Reviews
The recommended bed is around 50mm
9th Jan 2024
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Hello there
60-80mm will be fine - although higher than we like to do, so long as the mix is good and the slabs are primed. However for what it’ll take to simply barrow in an extra few tons of subbase, you’ll save on sand and cement, as well as time it’ll take to mix and lay mortar that thick. You won’t be saving yourself time, and certainly not money!
Hope this helps
Fencing Somerset
60-80mm will be fine - although higher than we like to do, so long as the mix is good and the slabs are primed. However for what it’ll take to simply barrow in an extra few tons of subbase, you’ll save on sand and cement, as well as time it’ll take to mix and lay mortar that thick. You won’t be saving yourself time, and certainly not money!
Hope this helps
Fencing Somerset
4th Apr 2024
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