"Masonry321" wrote:


-snip-
The question is, do i really need to rent a $75 / day power compactor
to level the base?

or is what i have done already enough?

Compute the hours that you already have invested. If you are
willing to do that again in one or two years-- then save the $75.

I was going to hand tamp mine-- but as it worked out, I was at the
stone place on a saturday about noon & the owner asked if I'd rented a
tamper yet. I said no & he said he'd charge me a 1/2 day if I got
it back monday morning.

I'm *so* glad he offered. The next time I'll rent it for the day.
Places where I'd hand tamped 4" of base-- layed out in 2 passes- got
compressed another inch or so.

After 3 NY winters my patio looks as good as the day I finished it. I
doubt it would look so good without the power tamping.

When you consider the whole job-- materials and labor- $75 is a drop
in the bucket.

Jim