Building a patio, or paved area can be a great way to use paving slabs Swindon and add a practical and very low maintenance space to your garden, perfect for relaxation and entertaining.
If you’re wanting to add a patio to your garden and see yourself as a bit of a DIY-er, it can be a relatively simple job. The sub-base can take some time, but if you have a bit of experience, it is possible to complete the whole patio project in a weekend. Though to speed up the process, we do advise asking a friend or family member to help, just to make the heavier work easier.
Planning
Planning is essential when you want to lay a patio. Before you even begin and dig a hole in the ground, you need to plan every detail and know exactly how you want it to be once you finish it.
To plan out your patio, you should draw out your path on paper then mark it out using pegs and string in your garden. This is a great way to begin visualising your patio before you make any irreversible changes. Make sure you are choosing the right shape patio for your garden, especially as shapes can create a great deal of interest and potentially make your garden feel much larger or smaller. Once you’re happy with the shape and size, it’s time to begin.
What Tools Will I Need?
- Hardcore
- Building Sand
- Cement
- Cement Mixer (optional)
- Shovel
- Rake
- Wheelbarrow
- Wooden Pegs
- Hammer
- Spirit Level
- Plank of Wood
- Wacker Plate
- Rubber Mallet
- Bolster Chisel
- Pointing Trowel
Step 1 – Clear the Area
Clear the area you’ll be working with to a depth of 15cm to allow room for the hardcore, mortar and paving slabs. Layout 5cm-8cms of hardcore and use a rake to evenly distribute it and make sure there aren’t any bumps.
Step 2 – Compact the Ground
Use a wacker plate to compact and level the hardcore. This step is not necessarily essential, but we do recommend it because it’ll stop the rubble moving around when you lay the slabs and will help make the base more solid.
Step 3 -Levelling
Hammer wooden pegs into the ground – making sure they’re at the same height to mark the level surface of the patio. Make sure that they’re all level with any existing paving and manhole covers. Position several pegs over the patio site and use a spirit level to ensure they’re even.
Step 4 – Design
If you would like a random design, place several slabs on the ground to have you decide which shapes will interlock well together. Alternatively, you can cut out pieces of paper to represent scaled-down slabs and work out a design on your scale plan.
At this step, you have the chance to make a huge range of designs. Here at Sansums, we stock a huge range of slabs in all different colours to create the patio design on your dreams.
Step 5 – Mortar
Now, make up a mortar mix from five parts building sand to one part cement. If you’re laying a small patio, you can mix this up in a wheelbarrow, but for larger areas, we recommend hiring a cement mixer, just to save you time.
Then, lay the slabs on a bed of mortar 5cm – 8cm deep, tapping them down firmly with a rubber mallet or pressing down with your hands.
Step 6 – Make Sure It’s Level
Make sure to leave a 1cm gap between each slab, which you’ll fill in later with mortar. As you progress, use your spirit level or a plank of wood to ensure the slabs are level with the pegs you banged into the ground earlier.
Step 7 – Edgings
You can now edge around the patio. We suggest using some of our block paving for a neat, straight edge.
Step 8 – Wash Down the Slabs
Be sure to wash down the slabs when you’re finished, this will remove any splattered mortar before it hardens and stains the paving.
Step 9 – Fill in the Gaps
Fill in the gaps between the paving slabs using a pointing trowel and the same mortar mix as before. It’s a good idea to try not to get mortar on the slab surfaces as this will stain if allowed to set.
Paving Slabs Swindon
Now you should be left with a beautiful new patio, perfect for whatever garden activities you’re planning this upcoming summer. Whatever type of patio you’ve chosen to build, you will have made a great investment in your garden. Not only have you made it more aesthetically pleasing throughout the year, but you’ll also have a patio that’ll last for years to come.
Sansums are here to help when you’re creating your garden patio. We stock a huge variety of different pathway materials for you to choose from at some great prices. We only supply the highest quality materials and have a highly trained team will be more than happy to assist you in ensuring that you purchase the materials you need and the right amount to complete your project to the highest standard.
Get in touch with a member of our team today on 01793 536784 and they’ll be more than happy to advise you on paving slabs Swindon.