Block pave driveway repair - DIY or pay someone?

[paul080803]

Currently driveway is block paved, a little while ago we removed a brick wall along one edge and made a raised wooden flower bed and removed a porch.

This left a edging brick width gap along the flower bed and a 1m by 2m concrete block where the porch was. The concrete will not break down with DIY tools and will need a more professional machine.

I have all the bricks to finish off the drive, including a step for the front door. Had a quote of £500 to sort it (£200 to break out the concrete and £300 labour to do the bricks plus sand)

As I am tight £500 sounds painful. I am a competent diyer so should I be renting the equipment, getting a mate over and cracking on one weekend? Or will it all go wrong, end up wobbly and uneven and have to put up with the boss telling me "told you so" for ever!!!

[dgbnova#1]

Rent a big breaker and save cash there by the time you get sand wackier cutter etc prob cheaper to pay the 300 or offer to labour for a reduction worth a try and offer cash

[mowgli]

you can rent a kango or similar breaker from a hire shop for well under £100, a wacker plate for about £50 and sand is about £20. get a how to guide from a local diy place & get it done.

ps. you could pm me some pics & i'll send you some instructions

[paul080803]

mowgli, thanks I will get some pics up for you to have a look at.

I thought about digging the concrete out myself, but rental is £80 plus all the agro and still paying someone to come in and finish the job hurts my male pride.

I really want to do it myself, but only if it is a realistic job!

[dgbnova#1]

As mowgli said look at some vids I'm sure on you tube some will be there

[dgbnova#1]

Don't thing about it hurting your pride think about avoiding the "I told you so " speech

[paul080803]

Don't thing about it hurting your pride think about avoiding the "I told you so " speech

I am used to that speech though!!!!

[mowgli]

block paving is hardly difficult... some of the thickest people I know are pavers....

[Shamish82]

as above do it

[Scottcooper85]

Try drilling the slab with loads of holes and then hitting it with a large sledge hammer, if it doesn't work at least you'll have got to hit things with a hammer.