Bbq area base

[Mark M]

Im building a bbq table for my Weber 57, smoker and uuno pizza oven which is just about sorted. Bit late in the year I know. I’m putting in the corner of the garden which currently just a soil border. I can’t afford to get anyone in to do it properly but what are my options for he base? It’s not massive, think a few m^2.

I’ve thought of flags, concrete, gravel and decking. Don’t think I’m keen on decking and gravel won’t give me a level base for the table so it’s concrete or flags. Concrete might look a bit industrial as it’s not like a shed where you’ll not see the base as the table is open underneath so I’m leaning g towards flags.

When the patio nearby was laid they put hardcore down and used a whacker machine but I don’t have one so I’m conscious of not compacting the hardcore enough and the slabs moving? Can it be done by hand or can the flags be laid on sand?

Finally, if I do go for flags can they be cut with an angle grinder? The existing patio is sandstone but happy to get some cheap B&Q ones that will be a similar colour as it’s not right next to it.

Any other options or opinions welcomed thanks.

 

[a1ex2001]

Compacting by hand with the back of a shovel or some timber and a sledge hammer will do the job.

Angle grinder with a decent cutting disk will do the job as well.

 

[Mark M]

Thanks for the advice. There will be very little weight on the area, just someone there cooking and that’s it so hopefully a DIY tamper will do the job!

 

[rah^]

I recently laid a new patio which used some type1 to level the deeper areas

Then just compacted a layer of grit sand and a layer of non compacted to lay patio slabs onto, rubber mallet to knock them down and a spirit level to ensure they are level with eaach other with a fall away so water runs off

An angle grinder with a diamond blade will cut through, please do get a mask and eye protection