Know Everything About How to Lay Patio Paving Slabs

For every patio, paving slabs play an important role in enhancing the overall appeal of the outdoor space. The paving slabs are flat stones or bricks that create hard and outdoor surfaces. In modern households, patios are a common choice for every individual who wants to opt for modern and classy elegance. The plus point is that patio paving slabs can be used to cover large areas efficiently. But the main question is, how can you lay patio paving slabs efficiently? Here is a guide article that can help you learn everything about patio paving slabs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Lay Patio Pathway Slabs

Paving slabs are available in different colours and styles. You can choose the best paving slabs that fit your needs. There are two ways to lay a pathway patio: hire a professional or use DIY methods. DIY laying methods can help you save big on the overall cost of the installation and achieve the best results. Let's start our step-by-step guide that will help you lay premium patio pavements.

Things You Need To Start DIY

Let's start by understanding the things you need to start the patio laying. Here is the list of things you need to start the project:

Tools	String Line Pegs Spade Semi stiff brush Trowel Bucket Wheelbarrow Rake Tape measure Spirit Level Rubber Mallet
Materials Required	Paving Slabs Sand MOT Type 1 Water

The Structured Process

Here is a step-by-step process that you need to follow for the structured application of the patio paving laying.

Understand the Requirements

Start by first understanding and asking yourself the important question. The basic questions will help you understand your requirements better. Here are a few things that you must know before you start the DIY process:

• The drainage system surrounding the area.
• The kind of area you need a patio for, whether it's driveways or patios. 
• Accurate measurement of the area to estimate the number of slabs.
• The design you have in mind to create.
• Your preferred paving slabs. You can choose from a range of porcelain slabs, limestone slabs, or sandstone paving slabs.

Mark Out The Desired Area

Start by marking the desired area and separating it using pegs and string lines. You might be thinking, why do you need to follow such a simple step? But it will help you ensure that you get neat and structured outcomes. Moreover, it will also help you to acknowledge the sizes of slabs you need to fit the surface. Here's a pro tip: when you are marking out the area, don't forget to include a gradual slope for drainage. For that, you need to peg your string at the highest end from one side and then the lowest end from the opposite side.

Also read, How to clean porcelain paving slabs yourself

Prepare the Surface

Once you have marked the surface, the next step is to prepare it. You need to remove any old paving, concrete, or turf from the surface. You can also dig to the surface to ensure uniformity while laying patio paving. The depth of the ground depends on the kind of paving you want, whether you want to fix your paving at ground level or want to give it a raised look compared to others.

Ideal Depth For Patio Pavings

In general, the depth of the patio paving is 150mm. This 150mm includes 75mm of subbase and 50mm of mortar mix. On top of this, patio paving is placed to give you the desired look. 

Now Lay the Subbase

Once the area is prepared, the interesting steps of the process can be started. The first one is laying a subbase. Most DIYers use MOT TYPE 1 as the subbase. You can also utilise other options if you find them more beneficial. Lay a subbase up to 75mm to ensure effectiveness and efficacy. After the layer of the subbase comes the second layer, which strengthens the surface. For that purpose, you can either use 25mm deep sharp sand or mortar mix, which is sufficient to provide your surface with long-lasting characteristics. Besides, you can also lay a weed-protective membrane to add a layer of safety and resist weed growth.

How to use mortar mix?

If you are using mortar mix, you need to ensure that you use the right amount. In general, you need to add water to the level until the consistency is reached. This will allow the paste to stay in place and not fall off, even in extreme weather.

Start Setting the Pavings

Now, position the paving slabs correctly in the freshly laid base layer. First, clean the back of the slabs using a brush and slide them into the right position. Ideally, you should always start laying from the highest position. There should be a sufficient gap of between 5 and 10 mm between the two slabs to ensure proper smooth placement. You can also use a rubber mallet to fix the slabs into the right place gently. Afterwards, leave the surface to dry for at least 24 hours. Meanwhile, don't walk or disturb the paving slabs to ensure rigidity.

Fill the Gaps

After 24 hours, you need to fill the gaps between the paving slabs. For this purpose, you can either use decorative stones or a joint compound that offers you the easiest and most effective method. If you want to prepare a DIY joint mix, you can mix five parts of the builder's sand with 1 part of cement and a little water. Whatever you use, ensure that you use adequate amounts of a compound onto your paving and sweep or trowel into the joint gaps. After that, leave the area to dry again for 48 hours or more, depending upon the weather and air humidity.

It’s All Done

That is how you are done with DIY patio paving laid in a structured and effective manner. If you are planning to source patio paving slabs for your home interiors, Brisks is your reliable solution. At Brisks, you can find everything you need for your outdoor spaces, including paving slabs, granite, gravels, garden aggregates, water features, and much more.