How to Lay a Patio

Here we show you a guide on how we install all of our patio areas. We follow guidelines set out via Brett paving as we are approved installers to keep our standards high.

Step One:Site Prep

We arrive to the job on the agreed date between 7:30-8am. Once we have access into the garden we inspect the area to become familiar with the space around us. We run through the requirements originally agreed on our initial meeting to make sure we are all up to speed and then let the customer know our targets for the day. This allows the customer to know what will be happening during that specific day.

Step Two: Excavation
Next is the excavation of the patio area. If there is sufficient access we will use our company owned digger to help dig the correct depths but if no access is available we hand dig the site. The depth should be 150mm or 6 inches from the finished patio height

Step Three: Sub Base
We use a membrane layer if required before laying the sub base. After tipping sub base over the whole area we rake this around with a consistent depth of 100mm making sure there is a fall away from the house. We then compact the area using a compactor plate making sure the area is compacted twice.

Step Four: Laying of the Flagstones

Using a mix of 5 parts building sand to 1 part cement mix we begin to lay the patio slabs. We like to keep the patio off the building unless the customer says differently. We use aluminum bars to help keep the same width along a building. This helps keep the patio square off the house.

We start either at the corner or furthest point away. We trowel a bed of mortar to cover the area intended for the first paving slab. The depth of the mortar should be approximately 35-40mm. We lower ear slab individually making sure they are laid without making it dirty.

We then compact the patio slab using a rubber hammer getting the slab down to the appropriate level. We use a spirit level to make sure the slabs have the correct fall which is usually level along the building with a slight fall out to the garden area. This ensure no flooding occurs at the clients door. If the flagstone is a little high or not running the correct way, we amend this by compacting more with a rubber hammer until the correct fall is achieved. This step is repeated until the full area is completed.

If cutting is required, we choose to cut during the laying process which help keep the pattern flowing but if some are unable to be cut then we carry this out the next day.

We lay all the patio slabs allowing for a 10-15mm gap in between each slab which allows for pointing to be carried out the following day.

If indian sandstone slabs area used, please be aware that they are a natural stone and will not all be identical in colour or size. This means some slabs may have some raised areas in the middle of the slab but when against slabs on the edge will show as level.

Step Five: Pointing

Once the patio has had overnight to dry we can complete the area by filling the joints in. If cuts need to be finished and laid, this will be done before the pointing stage. We mainly use a pointing compound created by Sika or similar who offer a modern way to fill the joints in. This is available in Buff or Grey.

We use a smooth iron to create a smooth, neat groove while pushing the compound firmly into each join. Once this has been completed on all slabs we allow the compound to slightly set and then use soft brooms to brush the excess off the area to make it clean and complete.

Step Six: The finished Product