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A patio is an excellent addition to any outdoor space; it can act as a dining area and a place to sit and enjoy good weather. It enhances any garden’s overall appeal by adding visual texture and contrast.
Those who want to install may not have the tools and equipment to create a patio, but you can make your patio more aesthetic by following the complete guidelines of A and M Groundworks.
Step 1- Preparing the Area:
Before beginning to lay a patio, the space must first be prepared. This includes inspecting the area with a cable avoidance tool for underground pipes or cables. If you discover any of these, you must hire a professional to relocate your patio.
The next and most important step is that you will need to outline the area for your patio, which you can do by arranging your patio slabs in the proper pattern on the ground. Builders’ lines and pegs may be used to define the area, which should be slightly bigger than the recommended patio size to provide a strong foundation.
Step 2 – Excavation:
To prepare for installing your patio, you must excavate the indicated area to install a sub-base, which will serve as the foundation for your patio slabs. Additionally, you will need to excavate the area with a fall, a very small slope that helps water drain easily off your patio. This should always be oriented away from any structures or property walls.
To estimate how deep you must dig, you must also consider the overall depth of all your materials, in addition to the fall. For your sub-base material, the appropriate depth is 100mm, and 40-50mm is appropriate for mortar. You also need to consider the depth of your paving slab so that the top of the paving slab is about level with the patio once everything is in place.
Using a lawn edger, carefully remove the turf since you may use it later to fill any gaps, and then excavate the area to the required depth. Mark several wooden pegs at the needed heights for the sub-base, hammer them into the excavated area, and then verify that they are level. Make sure each row accounts for the identified fall as you repeat this process every 1m.
Step 3 – The Right Sub-Base:
Fill the space with suitable material, using a wheelbarrow to transfer the sub-base or hardcore material. After filling the space, compact the sub-base material with a plate compactor to flat and align it with the top of the marking pegs. To reach this point, you must add more sub-base and condense it again.
Step 4 – Laying the Mortar and First Slab:
Once your sub-base is done, use wooden pegs to indicate the height and fall of the mortar and paving stones. These pegs should be positioned in the sub-corners, just outside the optimal patio space. A mortar mixture is prepared with one part cement and four parts sharp sand to support the paving stones. Mix your mortar until it is soft but not runny, either in a cement mixer for larger quantities or a mixing tray for smaller amounts.
Place mortar to a height of approximately 60mm at one of the maximum corners of the sub-base, sufficient to support the initial paving slab. Wet the back of the first paver and place it on the mortar with care. The slab’s location can then be adjusted using a piece of wood and a club hammer to flush with the guiding peg. Using a trowel, trim the mortar underneath the slab, so it is flat with the edge.
Although using the mortar once it has been mixed takes two hours, you have plenty of time to move the slab if needed. Certain paving may require a primer to assist it in adhering to the mortar.
Step 5 – Laying the rest of the Patio Slabs:
To establish an even distance between slabs, you must build spacers out of small pieces of wood after placing the first slab. Using the same method as that for the first slab, place the first row of slabs in the slope’s direction, filling the spacers between each one. Use a spirit level to ascertain that the patio is level and has the proper slope.
After arranging the remaining pavers similarly, let the mortar set for 48 hours. Cover the patio with a tarp if rain is expected during this time.
Step 6 – Joining the Slabs:
The last and most important step is to remove the spacers between the slabs once the mortar has dried. Now you may apply the final touch to your patio by jointing it. Depending on the joints’ size, you should use sand for small joints, a dry mortar combination for medium joints, or a wet mortar mixture for large joints.
Brush or trowel the mixture into the joints, then firmly press them down with a jointing tool. Smooth up any joints and remove any surplus material from the slabs.
