Paving Your Own Patio
Paving your own patio can save a lot of money and provide that satisfactory feeling. This project can be nice and simple if you follow our guide and will save you some pennies in the meantime.
2 minute read
Whilst you don’t need a professional, it’s always good to have a helping hand as the slabs are generally heavy and you don’t want to do your back in. Once you have created your ideal garden design and the size of the patio, allow approximately two to three days to complete the job.
Plan your patio
When considering patio placement, ensure the surface is a minimum of 150mm below your house's damp proofing and ensure the patio will slope gradually away from the house.
Measuring up
When calculating how many slabs you need, calculate this is square metres. This will help you assess how many packs you need.
Marking out the patio
When marking out the patio, ensure that it is accurate. Use a builder's square, wooden pegs and string to ensure it is the exact dimensions.
Starting to lay your patio
- Start by removing all turf, shrubbery and previous paving
- Remove any dirt and turf to a depth of 150mm to allow for the foundations of the patio
- Once your base has been dug, you need to cover with a layer of hardcore. The recommendation is between 50mm to 80mm and must cover the full area of your patio
- Once the hardcore has been laid, rake over to ensure it is level and then put a top layer of bedding mortar on top
- Lay your paving slabs on the hardcore, start at the corner as near to the house as possible. The first slab is the most important. Take time and care to do this, ensuring each slab is laid down evenly and an even pressure applied so it cannot 'bounce'
- Leave for 24 hours for the slabs to settle into place
Finishing off your paving
- Once the full patio has been laid, you need to fill the gaps in between the patio slabs. This is to stop the slabs moving and prevent weeds from popping up in between
- The mortar should be made up by mixing four parts building sand with one part cement. You should make this mixture so it is only just wet
- A quick tip to ensure the mortar is at the correct dampness, take a handful and compress it. It should not crumble, but nor should any water be expelled from it. You can adjust the consistency by adding sand to a too wet mixture and adding water to a too dry mixture
- Once the mixture is ready, put the mortar into the gaps with a trowel and then remove any excess with a semi-stiff brush and wash down the entire patio
*How To articles are intended as advice only. Please refer to your completion documents for specific information on lease and covenant restrictions and maintenance of your home.*
