Introduction to Laying Paving Slabs


Paving slabs are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials so you can create almost any look you desire. Do some careful shopping around the DIY shops or manufacturers to make your final decision. Check that the slabs are frost hardy as their life expectancy is short and they look unsightly when they stat to turn to powder.  Choose a size and colour that compliments the house style.

Preparing the area

These tips are made easier if you work from a plan that you have measured out earlier. Keep in mind your skill levels and start off with simple designs. If you make them complicated you will need cutting equipment.  Check what the tool hire companies near you have in.

·    Clear and level the area to be paved.
·    Remove all plant matter and you may even treat the area with weed killer before you begin paving. Go for the organic weedkiller option..
·    To ensure that water will run off the paved area and away from the house, create a slight slope by grading the ground to drop about 3 cm per metre in the direction you want the water to travel.
·    Pack the soil down firmly with a hand tamp, and let it settle before commencing.  You might need to wet it down firt too.

The Layout

·    Define the patio area with string, wood, or blocks.   
·    Next, spread 3-6 cm of course sand inside the forms.
·    Level the sand with a screed board made from a straight 2×4. To ensure that the sand is the same depth throughout the area, nail scraps of wood on both ends of the 2×4 at equal heights from the bottom. These scraps, or ears, will rest on the forms as you drag the screed across the space, keeping the sand at a uniform depth. Leaving the thickness of a slab from the top of the form down to the sand level works well.

Laying the Slabs

·    Now you’re ready to begin laying slabs. You can use any pattern you like (basket weave, herringbone, running bond, etc.) keeping them uniformly tight together. This is where the small ribs mentioned earlier come in handy. They allow you to push the bricks snuggly together and still leave space for the sand.
·    When all the slabs are in place, spread sand over the whole surface and work it into the spaces with a broom. You may have to reapply sand over the first week or so as traffic and water cause it to settle into the gaps.

5 spots of Cement.

If the area has a lot of traffic you can add five spots of cement to the ground, resting the slab onto this then tamping down. Check with a level every step of the way.

Pathways

You can create simple paths with complete slabs.  The smaller they are the smoother the curves.

 

Ideas for the patio design..Read more...

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Patio site
written by gardenplansireland, June 10, 2010

A site for your patio

The patio is an extension you can add to your home without planning permission; it is your roofless dining area or room outside. We use patios primarily as sitting, sunning and entertaining zones. Your patio should be used as our own personal courtyard linked to our house. With these uses in mind, seek out an area that receives direct sun from the south, the west or a combination of both. Southerly facing patios offer warmth from twelve o’clock onwards, ideal for those of you who wish to tan au-natural. A paved area with a westerly aspect will allow you to enjoy evening sun whilst reflecting on the day, with or without a glass of wine. Sun alone is not enough to make your patio experience a pleasant one; you must also seek out an area that is a refuge from winds or else provide artificial shelter. I come across many fine-looking patios in full sun that I find hard to spend more than a few minutes on, due mostly to the wind chill factor.

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