PAVE YOUR WAY

You can lay your own patio or terrace. Real Homes’ Anna Cottrell reveals how

What you’ll need

A spade, trowel, rubber mallet, building tape, wooden pegs (optional), sub base, aggregate, building sand, cement, slurry primer (optional), spirit level.

Preparing the ground

Measure and mark out the patio area. If it’s turfed, cut into strips using a spade and save to fill any gaps between the new patio and the lawn. Dig an area 15cm deep – 10cm for your sub base and 5cm for mortar and paving slabs. If you’re laying directly next to the house, the finished patio should be 15cm below the damp proof course.

Creating the right base

Fill the bottom of your patio area with a sub-base of hardcore and rake to an even depth of

5cm, then compact by walking on it or by hiring a vibrating plate compactor, going over the entire area twice. Cover with a thin layer of builder’s sand and check that it’s flat and level. You’ll need a layer around 5cm deep above the hardcore when laying pavers.

Making the mortar

Mix five parts builder’s sand with one part cement and add water to create a dough-like consistency. Spray or sprinkle your paving slabs with water as laying dry slabs can dry the mortar mix too quickly. Using a trowel, place a dollop of mortar where the centre of your first slab will go. Start in a corner and work outwards. Put the slab on the mortar and gently tap in with a mallet. Lay in rows, leaving 1cm gaps between slabs. Use a spirit level as you go so you can correct any unevenness. For porcelain paving, paint slurry primer onto the base of the paver.

Finishing touches

Don’t walk over the patio for 24 hours. Once dry, mix more sand and cement in a 5:1 ratio, but don’t wet it. Using your trowel, fill the gaps with the mixture and brush away any excess from the surface.