Adding Indian sandstone paving to your outdoor space is a terrific way of making it more attractive and useful at the same time. A patio will give you an even surface in your garden that the kids can play on and that you can eat meals on. You will probably spend far more time outdoors once you have a great patio but how will you make sure that you lay it perfectly?
Mark the Area First
The very first step is to mark out the area, preferably with pins and strong thread or some other sort of line. This will let you clearly visualise the end result right away and also help you to notice any possible problems. If you have french and sliding patio doors leading from the inside of the home to the patio, then be sure to leave enough space between them and the layout. Consider adding a paved pathway and some plants in this area as a lead to the patio. This way, you can keep the doors open and make an extended area large enough for when you’re hosting.
Be sure to check that the corners are squared off. In addition, you will need the patio to be some 15cm below the damp proof course if it is going to join on to the house.
Dig Out the Area Carefully
You should now look to dig out the grass, dirt or whatever else is currently where the patio is going to go. You can start with the outside, as this will then allow you to remove the string markings.
Be sure to allow a depth of 10cm for the hardcore, 2.5 cm for the slab laying cement and then the depth of the slabs themselves. Once it is completed, you should look for the slabs or natural stone paving to be 1cm below the grass around it.
Prepare the Ground Well
The next step is to add pegs at regular intervals around the outside edge. They should be level with the ground and then have timber added to them, to form a solid outside edge.
At this point you can make sure that the patio is sloping away from the house rather than towards it. Add 10cm of hardcore, which should then be compacted with either a plate compactor or a sledgehammer.
Add the Slabs in the Right Way
You can take the opportunity to lay the slabs directly first of all, to see whether they all fit in well. Once you are happy that everything is fine you can lift them back up and add 2.5 of slab laying cement, following the instructions for watering it and smoothing it.
It is now time to start laying the slabs, starting in a corner and moving along the edges first of all. Remember to leave spaces for the mortar joints as you work, which is easier done if you use plastic spacers.
That said, in case you haven’t ordered the slabs yet, and are wondering where to get them from, you might want to check out eCommerce stores similar to Paving Shopper. By doing so, you not only get to see the different materials of slabs available, but you can also calculate the approximate number you would need for your garden by referring to the size mentioned along with the products.
Enjoy Adding the Finishing Touches
After leaving the slabs to set for 48 hours you are now ready for the finishing touches. For example, you can add mortar mix or sand in the spaces between the slabs now.
Patios also look fantastic when they have some plants around the edge or an elegant border of garden gravel. Finally, you can start to add garden furniture, toys or whatever else you and your family need to make the most of this useful new outdoor space.