How to Lay a Patio

Laying a patio is among the most expensive things you will do to a garden. Two things must be remembered when starting this project. The top of the patio next to the building must be 150mm below the Damp Proof Course. The next thing to remember is that the patio must slope away from the building.

Always start out patios 3 to 4 inches away from the house. This is done for two reasons. The first reason is if there is a downpour or high winds, then the water will splash against the house wall and form little pools in the sunken area. Leaving this gap and filling with pea shingles will allow the water to drain away. The other reason for leaving this trench is to hide any wiring or cables if you decide to put lighting on your patio.

If a patio is built in a garden that consists of mainly clay or does not drain well, then it is a good idea to direct the water away from the patio. Direct it from where it has run through a drain and into a surface water pipe.

There is a wide variety of types and styles of slabs for you patio. When you begin laying your patio slabs, take your time. You will need to get a feel of how they fit together, which will make levelling your patio easier. Start your first row of slabs along the house and remember the gap we talked about above. This is a long and tedious project, but now you have a sense of what is involved in this DIY project. Save the instructions to a personalised usb drive for easy access and portability.