We’ve been quoted over £2k for an area about this size, money we don’t have unfortunately and outside our back door has become a muddy mess. My partner is now looking into doing it himself, are there any videos or guides that you used? He’s pretty adamant he can do it but seems like a tough job to me.
I had a quick google and found a basic set of steps to follow.
I dug the area out
Then laid hardcore and used a whacker plate to create a compressed base
Then put lots of sand down to build up to the level of the slabs
Laid the slabs on top after a dry mix of concrete.
Skip: £250
Whacker plate: £95 for a weekend
Bulk bag of hardcore: £80
1.5 bulk bags of sharp sand: £130
One of one neighbours was getting rid of the slabs and gave us them from free, which was a huge saving.
I am laying my patio as we speak, can I give some more tips:
- 100mm compacted sub base, of say type 1.
- 50mm mortar (5:1 cement to sharp sand). wet is more difficult but generally better than dry. So hire a cement mixer if going that way, it's so worth it
- calculate the depth you need to dig to as 100mm + 50mm + height of your slabs e.g. 20mm
- to make it easier to find the right levels, put stakes deep into the ground around the perimeter after you gave dug out, and draw in lines at each height
- put down a heavy duty weed mat below the 100mm sub base. This reduces it mixing into the dirt below.
- ensure you have a fall of 60:1, meaning it should drop 16mm every metre. I put the fall into the subbase then keep everything level from that. Fall away from the house obvs, or put in a drainage channel if you can't do that
- use a slurry on the back of the slabs
- don't dot and dab. Slurry the whole tile, mortar below the whole tile.
- don't use leveling clips, can use spacers though
- for the skip, you can hire an 8y skip and fill it to the top with dirt. That's about 8 tonnes. Also if you tell them it's dirt only its usually a bit cheaper as well.
It's not that difficult.... But it is pretty hard work. Good luck!
Literally starting to lay a patio today and this is a huge help. Same steps as I've found online but this much clearer and goes a little deeper. Thanks!
Another few tips:
The key part is getting the levels right. Easiest way I found is to go to the highest point of your patio, and put a level line from there out in all directions. Can use string or a laser. Then measure the fall down from that level line, and that will be the top of the patio level.
If you put stakes around the perimeter like I said, then you can string at the level, and as you dig down from there you can add in the levels for the top of the sub base, mortar, etc. (that's why the stakes need to be deep - around 400mm deep).
Another tip: get a long bit of wood and try to level out the sub base before you compact it. Way easier to get it flat that way.
All the best - I'm about to get back into it now as well :)
Both methods work fine!
With the dry mix your base needs to be pretty accurate and level, doesn’t give you much play when laying the patio…
With the wet cement your base can be a bit more slack when it comes to being level but still needs to be solid, using a bed of wet cement/compo of around 50mm gives you great leeway when laying and levelling the patio!
As an experienced fella I’d recommend the second method
You did a really good job. This is the next thing I'm looking at doing after I've brought Bellway to heel over the rest of the house. Soon to be out of the house for 8 weeks while they rebuild.
http://pavingexpert.com this is the absolute holy bible for paving and ground works.
It has everything you need to lay a patio from instructions on installation to material calculators.
It’s a little bit dated on the current & future regulation regarding civil groundworks but it’s ideal for a diy’r
Out of interest, have you priced up your materials yet? Only ask as concrete paving is hella expensive these days! You might find by the time you've rented the tools you need and bought all the materials, 2k isn't actually that far off.
Unless your quote is purely the labour side of it, of course.
Yeah we’re just outside of London, didn’t know if it was a genuine quote or a ‘fuck off’ one, but we’ve had four and they’ve all ranged from £2k+ to £5k. £5k one definitely didn’t want the job.
Glad to hear it. But besides the advice and what not from people it’s amazing to take something on, nail it and feel that sense of making a visible change. Once you do something like this it makes you think what’s possible! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Blocks would be much lower maintenance.
You won't need that many. Look on Facebook marketplace, there are usually people selling leftovers from a full driveway job cheap.
> either block
some variation of granite sett? Something feature/contrast. Squares or rectangles, anything you like the look off to feature edge. I have blue granite edging mine(lucky finding a left over from a big pack off ebay), really polishes it off.
Amazing for a first attempt (the cuts look really clean).
Small bit of advice, I’d try to avoid cross joints as much as possible, there’s 2 I can see. They really stand out and can be a bit distracting, at least for me anyway.
But it’s your patio so if it doesn’t bother you then that’s all that matters. You did a great job.
If it's laid on just sharp sand (not a problem as you can do this) I'd definitely utilise an edging restraint to stop any slippage of material outwards.
Basically over time, the pressure on the patio will push down and inevitably sideways if there is no barrier stopping it. You can use concrete launching, edging blocks on mortar or even specialist edging inserts.
Looks good to me. You always notice the problems with work you do yourself more than other people's work so don't be too hard on yourself. I know how much work that would have been. Bet you're feeling it now!
Watch a few YouTube videos! It’s simple on execution, just gotta make sure it’s level
Also, don’t hit the slabs too hard with a mallet as they will shatter haha
Well done on several counts, it looks great, you've left a gap to the house, and it's not just a square. Hopefully given the effort you've put in, it stays looking good, and the water drains the way you want it to. Enjoy
Look great. I need to fix/replace my patio.
My question. How do you deal with the drainage stones around the house? Remove, leave a gap, replace. Think I'm overthinking it.
Honestly? Did My own after a 4.5k qoute off brother inlaw... this qoute was just Labour not materials... LOL.
Oh yeah that was family rates too... he came round asked who did it, and his words where
"Who did this must have paid top notch what was it? 5k? 7k I'd of done it cheaper"
I replied "me I did it" he laughed, said it would sink because I didn't do a hardcourse, or add sharp sand ect... I picked up a tile, started digging and laughed... we haven't spoke since. Because I called him a rip off cunt.
This here? Is amazing and you've done a brilliant job ! Be proud and enjoy it this summer
Correction - it is multiple times better than the patio I paid thousands for a landscaper to lay. I’d still be a happy customer if mine looked like this, well done!
Looks good to me, now for the normal patio thing of hoping none of the slabs sink after the first bad storm but even if they do its just a matter of adding a bit more sand under the low ones
"total cabbage" Love that.
I was hoping for some tale of a neighbour's kid one day coming crashing through it. Or you being pissed and falling through it.
Total cabbage. Haha
Sorry, bud. You are going to have problems with that patio. Yes, it looks gr8 and well done 👏
The water is going to start trying to go into your home. There are a few easy ways out..
1 aco drains. I personally would run a length touching your patio (not the house) and all the way across your patio. Cutting a channel through the path or bending it around the gravel trap towards an existing drain.
2 or.. to make a channel to lead water away from your home towards the camera, man. Using pebbles tamped into sharp sand like a cobbled floor. You could create some nice curves. I have scanned the web for a demo photo, but with no avail. Another way would be bricks that have channel groves. Again, along the house and across the patio or around to the drain.
It is late, and im waffling. I run my own landscaping company for 3 years now, led other companies, and have been in the trade for a long time. Im happy to spend more time explaining my thoughts if you wish.
Best stan
How come? The first 2 deep of slabs closest to the house was already laid with the drainage gravel between the house and the patio so I’ve followed the drop off to point it towards the garden.
Maybe i was being a little too presumptuous with my first statement. But these things I mentioned are best practice. You maybe lucky and there is a perforated pipe along your house deeper than you have exposed and or you may have 3ft of clean stone there to handle the water.
The patio is well below damp course level but falling without an adequate drainage solution.
If you say there was 2 slabs there with a gravel trap then there was lots of options for the water to dissipate... but now you have created a trough that water may* sit in. Only one place for it to go and it is collecting runoff over a larger surface area.
You could leave it a few months and do a dig test in the gravel area.. If you find a lot of slit sludge 4 to 6 inch down then this is a sign of puddling. Add a drain. If not no worries.
Sorry to point this out. Good luck. If i find the photo of a pebbled drain I will send it over.
Blue block paving looks a treat.The wood will need maintenance and in time will rott in the ground but still a good call.make sure it’s pressure treated wood for longer life
It’s is great actually - and it’s your first one. 👏
Thanks!
I’m a builder, and I’ve seen professionals do a lot worse jobs than that. You should be proud, looks brilliant!
Thanks! I’m really proud of it!
We’ve been quoted over £2k for an area about this size, money we don’t have unfortunately and outside our back door has become a muddy mess. My partner is now looking into doing it himself, are there any videos or guides that you used? He’s pretty adamant he can do it but seems like a tough job to me.
I had a quick google and found a basic set of steps to follow. I dug the area out Then laid hardcore and used a whacker plate to create a compressed base Then put lots of sand down to build up to the level of the slabs Laid the slabs on top after a dry mix of concrete. Skip: £250 Whacker plate: £95 for a weekend Bulk bag of hardcore: £80 1.5 bulk bags of sharp sand: £130 One of one neighbours was getting rid of the slabs and gave us them from free, which was a huge saving.
I am laying my patio as we speak, can I give some more tips: - 100mm compacted sub base, of say type 1. - 50mm mortar (5:1 cement to sharp sand). wet is more difficult but generally better than dry. So hire a cement mixer if going that way, it's so worth it - calculate the depth you need to dig to as 100mm + 50mm + height of your slabs e.g. 20mm - to make it easier to find the right levels, put stakes deep into the ground around the perimeter after you gave dug out, and draw in lines at each height - put down a heavy duty weed mat below the 100mm sub base. This reduces it mixing into the dirt below. - ensure you have a fall of 60:1, meaning it should drop 16mm every metre. I put the fall into the subbase then keep everything level from that. Fall away from the house obvs, or put in a drainage channel if you can't do that - use a slurry on the back of the slabs - don't dot and dab. Slurry the whole tile, mortar below the whole tile. - don't use leveling clips, can use spacers though - for the skip, you can hire an 8y skip and fill it to the top with dirt. That's about 8 tonnes. Also if you tell them it's dirt only its usually a bit cheaper as well. It's not that difficult.... But it is pretty hard work. Good luck!
Literally starting to lay a patio today and this is a huge help. Same steps as I've found online but this much clearer and goes a little deeper. Thanks!
Another few tips: The key part is getting the levels right. Easiest way I found is to go to the highest point of your patio, and put a level line from there out in all directions. Can use string or a laser. Then measure the fall down from that level line, and that will be the top of the patio level. If you put stakes around the perimeter like I said, then you can string at the level, and as you dig down from there you can add in the levels for the top of the sub base, mortar, etc. (that's why the stakes need to be deep - around 400mm deep). Another tip: get a long bit of wood and try to level out the sub base before you compact it. Way easier to get it flat that way. All the best - I'm about to get back into it now as well :)
100mm of sub is a lot for a patio
100mm is pretty standard and gives a good sturdy foundation. Some go 150mm. I decided to go for the 100mm for peace of mind.
If you're driving a vehicle over it maybe. Yr talking driveway flags there.
Great work. I've heard mixed info on dry mix concrete or laying on wet cement. Anyone got any thoughts as I need to do mine.
Both methods work fine! With the dry mix your base needs to be pretty accurate and level, doesn’t give you much play when laying the patio… With the wet cement your base can be a bit more slack when it comes to being level but still needs to be solid, using a bed of wet cement/compo of around 50mm gives you great leeway when laying and levelling the patio! As an experienced fella I’d recommend the second method
Thanks for this great explanation. 2nd way is where I'm headed....just summing up the courage to start it.
Was the hardcore cds or tapes?
Little bit of both, but you gotta bang it with your head and break into little pieces and then head bang it again to compact it
Cheers I’ve sent this to him.. think we’ll give it a go. Also well done, looks great!
Christ! Is that how much skips are now? And really good job.
You did a really good job. This is the next thing I'm looking at doing after I've brought Bellway to heel over the rest of the house. Soon to be out of the house for 8 weeks while they rebuild.
https://www.pavingexpert.com/ Tell your oh to read that site, it's all you need to know, period.
Really helpful thanks
Yes, great site. I also used his layout design service for mine. Made laying much easier to have a plan to follow.
http://pavingexpert.com this is the absolute holy bible for paving and ground works. It has everything you need to lay a patio from instructions on installation to material calculators. It’s a little bit dated on the current & future regulation regarding civil groundworks but it’s ideal for a diy’r
His book is great too!
It will be tough , support him and give him the confidence to have a go
Out of interest, have you priced up your materials yet? Only ask as concrete paving is hella expensive these days! You might find by the time you've rented the tools you need and bought all the materials, 2k isn't actually that far off. Unless your quote is purely the labour side of it, of course.
[удалено]
Yeah we’re just outside of London, didn’t know if it was a genuine quote or a ‘fuck off’ one, but we’ve had four and they’ve all ranged from £2k+ to £5k. £5k one definitely didn’t want the job.
Assuming that's all correct, includes materials and labour, and wasn't in 1974, they left a zero off the invoice
You’re right, it was 9k. Deleted original. I wrote the comment after a few beers so excuse me
If you want some more practice you can come and do mine, that's a cracking job!
Good job. If I may suggest, you need a concrete perimeter adding to stop the slabs moving
Yeah that’s on my todo list. I’ve done the far side by the fence, just need to tidy it all up now :) xx
Glad it’s on your list hun xoxo
Shared in Leeds hun x
Fab. Shared in Southampton hun xoxox
Heh heh
Glad to hear it. But besides the advice and what not from people it’s amazing to take something on, nail it and feel that sense of making a visible change. Once you do something like this it makes you think what’s possible! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
If you have the funds I’d think a block paving edging would look good.well done for a nice patio
Yeah I’m contemplating how to edge it. I was thinking either block or wooden runners and then stain
Blocks would be much lower maintenance. You won't need that many. Look on Facebook marketplace, there are usually people selling leftovers from a full driveway job cheap.
> either block some variation of granite sett? Something feature/contrast. Squares or rectangles, anything you like the look off to feature edge. I have blue granite edging mine(lucky finding a left over from a big pack off ebay), really polishes it off.
Looks great to me, I hope you’re proud of it
Good effort!! Looks great for your first time
Done well cocker! Looks like a good job
Amazing for a first attempt (the cuts look really clean). Small bit of advice, I’d try to avoid cross joints as much as possible, there’s 2 I can see. They really stand out and can be a bit distracting, at least for me anyway. But it’s your patio so if it doesn’t bother you then that’s all that matters. You did a great job.
Looks good to me
Nice job
You did well👍😎. Less wood more stone for edging, less (0) maintenance
Looks great from here, well done!
That’s an awesome job, well done!
Looks great to me!
Not great? Looks better than mine!
Nothing wrong with that.
Looks pretty great to me, nice work
Great 👍 what was your method?
Well done pal, sterling job
Looks great to me, probably saved yourself a tonne of money too. Good on you for giving it a try and smashing it first time
Better than a lot of so-called professionals. What is it laid on?
Thanks! I laid about 1 tonne of hardcore and 1.5 tonnes of sand
If it's laid on just sharp sand (not a problem as you can do this) I'd definitely utilise an edging restraint to stop any slippage of material outwards. Basically over time, the pressure on the patio will push down and inevitably sideways if there is no barrier stopping it. You can use concrete launching, edging blocks on mortar or even specialist edging inserts.
Yeah, I’ve sealed the side closest to the fence with concrete and I’m going to run around the rest of the patio with it.
This is sexy
Looks good to me. You always notice the problems with work you do yourself more than other people's work so don't be too hard on yourself. I know how much work that would have been. Bet you're feeling it now!
Looks great. How far did you dig down?
Not too far, maybe a foot?
Any tips for someone about to try the same thing ?
Watch a few YouTube videos! It’s simple on execution, just gotta make sure it’s level Also, don’t hit the slabs too hard with a mallet as they will shatter haha
Well done on several counts, it looks great, you've left a gap to the house, and it's not just a square. Hopefully given the effort you've put in, it stays looking good, and the water drains the way you want it to. Enjoy
Nice how did you cut it like that?
The guy who gave me all of the slabs had them cut at an angle
Look great. I need to fix/replace my patio. My question. How do you deal with the drainage stones around the house? Remove, leave a gap, replace. Think I'm overthinking it.
I just left them. I figured those stones, plus the additional drainage from the hardcore and the sand will be more than enough.
Honestly? Did My own after a 4.5k qoute off brother inlaw... this qoute was just Labour not materials... LOL. Oh yeah that was family rates too... he came round asked who did it, and his words where "Who did this must have paid top notch what was it? 5k? 7k I'd of done it cheaper" I replied "me I did it" he laughed, said it would sink because I didn't do a hardcourse, or add sharp sand ect... I picked up a tile, started digging and laughed... we haven't spoke since. Because I called him a rip off cunt. This here? Is amazing and you've done a brilliant job ! Be proud and enjoy it this summer
Correction - it is multiple times better than the patio I paid thousands for a landscaper to lay. I’d still be a happy customer if mine looked like this, well done!
Looks great, well below the damp course, drainage added, nice and flat, good job!
Looks good to me, now for the normal patio thing of hoping none of the slabs sink after the first bad storm but even if they do its just a matter of adding a bit more sand under the low ones
Yeah I’m more than certain that the slabs will sink 😂
If they all sink the same amount it's a win
Bet that made your eyes water
Who said its not great? I think you did a top job there buddy
It's OK that....
Ya big durty buzzard ye. Whats wrong with humans?
I'm interested to know how it came to be that you needed to replace that middle fence panel.
It was the housing developer. Like a lot of new builds the gardens are total cabbage and there was a bit of subsidence
"total cabbage" Love that. I was hoping for some tale of a neighbour's kid one day coming crashing through it. Or you being pissed and falling through it. Total cabbage. Haha
Looks pretty great to me!
Erm, it is great. Liar!
This looks amazing can I asked you how much that cost you ?
First one, you smashed it,clean the clutter off, and it would even be better other than that spot on pal
Looks great, if it was me doing it I’d have taken 2 months just to get 5 slabs down
Sun,s come out enjoy .
Looks brilliant, seen a friend lay one straight on grass with the slabs and nothing else, I mean literally nothing else…
Looks good but I hope the bodies are deep enough
Are they ever deep enough??
Would ask Fred West next time I see him or could write to rose
If it has no trip hazards, then it’s a job done👍
Nice one - you’ve just devalued the whole street
Spot on chap
Sorry, bud. You are going to have problems with that patio. Yes, it looks gr8 and well done 👏 The water is going to start trying to go into your home. There are a few easy ways out.. 1 aco drains. I personally would run a length touching your patio (not the house) and all the way across your patio. Cutting a channel through the path or bending it around the gravel trap towards an existing drain. 2 or.. to make a channel to lead water away from your home towards the camera, man. Using pebbles tamped into sharp sand like a cobbled floor. You could create some nice curves. I have scanned the web for a demo photo, but with no avail. Another way would be bricks that have channel groves. Again, along the house and across the patio or around to the drain. It is late, and im waffling. I run my own landscaping company for 3 years now, led other companies, and have been in the trade for a long time. Im happy to spend more time explaining my thoughts if you wish. Best stan
How come? The first 2 deep of slabs closest to the house was already laid with the drainage gravel between the house and the patio so I’ve followed the drop off to point it towards the garden.
Maybe i was being a little too presumptuous with my first statement. But these things I mentioned are best practice. You maybe lucky and there is a perforated pipe along your house deeper than you have exposed and or you may have 3ft of clean stone there to handle the water. The patio is well below damp course level but falling without an adequate drainage solution. If you say there was 2 slabs there with a gravel trap then there was lots of options for the water to dissipate... but now you have created a trough that water may* sit in. Only one place for it to go and it is collecting runoff over a larger surface area. You could leave it a few months and do a dig test in the gravel area.. If you find a lot of slit sludge 4 to 6 inch down then this is a sign of puddling. Add a drain. If not no worries. Sorry to point this out. Good luck. If i find the photo of a pebbled drain I will send it over.
Nah that’s cool man! I’d rather have proper feedback! Hopefully it’s all cool but I’ll defo try a dig test on one of the slabs after summer!
Dig test the gravel pit* no problem.
Still a good job mate
Looks tidy, well done 👍
Amazing job mate! About to start my own soon but still in the digging stage
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Nothing wrong with that , good work , bet you saved a fortune
Very good job. Certainly better than a lot of the ‘professional’ work I’ve seen.
Looks a decent job, I'd be pleased with that.
Looks okay to me - can you do mine next?
You have every right to be proud of that. Looks great! 👍
It looks absolutely fantastic. Great job, enjoy the new patio. 😁
Looks good, well done!
Love it.. really good job.. and it’s your first? Why not great…
Nice tidy job, now get the patio furniture sanded and stained
Blue block paving looks a treat.The wood will need maintenance and in time will rott in the ground but still a good call.make sure it’s pressure treated wood for longer life
What wood
He commented that he was thinking of edging with wooden runners
Thanks