What is required to have perfectly placed Paving Slabs
The advantages that paved slab patios have on a garden are plenty, besides simply that they look good and provide an area to have patio furniture and barbecues etc.Although getting one of these put in is much easier said than done and many prefer to hire a professional than tackle the job themselves.
It’s certainly not a process that can be done slapdash, but if you are planning to build your own patio using paving slabs then you’ll need a few pointers.This is why we’ve created a brief guide on the most important tips to remember when you’re building your garden patio.
Initially you’ll need to think about the type of soil in your garden before looking at paving slabs.There is a big difference between creating a patio and a simple paved path as the latter are much, much simpler to build.
Yet measuring any area that’s going to be paved is of paramount importance. Sloping and sinking paving slabs happen when they’re placed on soft, light soil so if this is what you have then make sure you mix it with gravel.
After sorting out the soil you’ll want to get a bit more creative and start choosing what colours will match with your current garden tones. If you want to go for the cheapest and easiest to find then aggregate or mixed stone concrete slabs are always available, but you should remember that they don’t offer the different shades and beautiful look that natural stone slabs do.Stones imported from other countries are the most expensive, but in the middle are those which are mined in York, such as Sandstone, Granite and Slate.Having a small garden means that you should try to have low fences, low trees and pale paving slabs, so avoid dark slate.
After choosing the colour and stone of your paving slabs you’ll need to prepare the soil for having them placed down.Use a shovel to dig out an 8 inch deep area in which your paving slabs will be placed, placing borders on the inside to keep the edge even.Borders are best made out of thin plastic is this is waterproof, but if you’re confident about the weather then cardboard will do.Perhaps the trickiest part is ensuring that the soil is sloped away from the house, so that when it rains it doesn’t gather on the paving slabs or flood your home.To make the process easier use a spirit level and dig at an angle that will let rain drain off but not compromise your ability to place furniture/plants on there.Once this has been done you can prepare the concrete to be poured in and paving slabs after that.Make sure that it goes in and fills 6 inches of the 8 inch depth.
Having the right sloped angle so that rain with drip off, a border for the dug out area, the right size, shape and colour are all very important factors to consider when you’re planning to place paving slabs or patio slabs in your garden.From there on in there’s not much to worry about but how your back will handle the weight!
