Forum

Replies

• 

  Chris Auld August 10, 2012 at 9:29pm

  Is this a genuine enquiry or do you just want to lure visitors to your site?

   

  To answer your question, the best tool for lifting flags is either a spade or cro bar, but you already knew that, didnt you ;)
• 

  Colin Hunt August 11, 2012 at 10:25am

  Agreed - if one of my lads uses a spade they would get a whack with it!
  
  stephen Huxtable said:

  Pickaxe or matock, but by far the best way is get someone else to do it :-) 
• PRO

  Phil Voice August 11, 2012 at 10:46am

  Hi Judi

  There's potentially two questions here.

  There's an efficient way from a back point of view. i.e. bending your knees and lifting with a straight back.

  But I know you didn't mean that ;-0)

  I think a spade is OK id the slabs aren't fixed firm. Just slide the tip of the blade under one side (not a corner as it might crack and break off). It may be useful to use a block of wood or a brick to act as a fulcrum to gain more leverage.

  If the stones are fixed quite firm then a mattock or pick is ideal as both tools have a curve to their head which automatically creates extra leverage when pull is put on the handle.

  If the slabs aren't to be re-used then a whack with a sledge hammer can loosen them up nicely:)
• 

  Ofer El-hashahar August 11, 2012 at 12:09pm

  Just on that subject,

  I wanted to ask your opinun about a product I saw in the USA

  http://www.potlifter.com/

  I thought it looks good and asking for your opinun, would anyone would source it/ use it ?

  your thoughs please.
• 

  timwright August 11, 2012 at 4:09pm

  here in the Lakes lots of folk have a good long crow bar; probably has a correct name my example is about four foot long flat at one end, vaguely round at teh other but it gives great leverage and if it dont lift something it will reduce it to size quite quickly.

  Seriously one lifts pavers with care. Try from the edge to the middle getting as far under as possible before lifting then one may be able to re use the slabs elsewhere. Perhaps to raise areas or even broken as edging wher it will be hidden by overgrowing plants?

   
• 

  Judi Samuels Garden Design August 11, 2012 at 7:20pm

  Thanks everybody for your responses.. I have learnt what a Mattock is now, I certainly didn't know before I asked here, so thank you! :-)
• 

  Judi Samuels Garden Design August 11, 2012 at 7:21pm

  Thanks very much Phil, my thanks to everyone who has responded.. :-)
  
  Phil Voice said:

  Hi Judi

  There's potentially two questions here.

  There's an efficient way from a back point of view. i.e. bending your knees and lifting with a straight back.

  But I know you didn't mean that ;-0)

  I think a spade is OK id the slabs aren't fixed firm. Just slide the tip of the blade under one side (not a corner as it might crack and break off). It may be useful to use a block of wood or a brick to act as a fulcrum to gain more leverage.

  If the stones are fixed quite firm then a mattock or pick is ideal as both tools have a curve to their head which automatically creates extra leverage when pull is put on the handle.

  If the slabs aren't to be re-used then a whack with a sledge hammer can loosen them up nicely:)
• 

  Trevor JH Knight August 12, 2012 at 2:18pm

  Easy one this, Pick axe or straight bar underneath the slab/ Flag.. then prise it up grab the slab/ flag with two hands then dispose of. I personally would not use a spade as it is likely to break in the worst case scenario, and get damaged in the second, spades are designed for digging not designed for prising flags out of the ground but they will still do the job but be prepared to end up buying new spades every week if you do. Have fun.
• 

  Judi Samuels Garden Design August 12, 2012 at 8:21pm

  Thanks very much for your advice.. and will do! :-)
  
  Trevor JH Knight said:

  Easy one this, Pick axe or straight bar underneath the slab/ Flag.. then prise it up grab the slab/ flag with two hands then dispose of. I personally would not use a spade as it is likely to break in the worst case scenario, and get damaged in the second, spades are designed for digging not designed for prising flags out of the ground but they will still do the job but be prepared to end up buying new spades every week if you do. Have fun.
• 

  Paul McMullan August 12, 2012 at 10:36pm

  a wrecking bar .... and a couple of labourers...