Laying patio stones question?
Question:I'm going to attempt to lay a stone patio in my backyard. I've killed the grass and will soon level it with sand.
When laying the patio stones, do I have to make a stone border first? Or can I just start laying them at one end and work my way to the other?
Answers:
The correct way to lay pavers is to excavate so that you can put in 6" or more 3/4" minus base material. Basically gravel with fines in it. Put the base in in 2" layers and pack every lift. If the base material is too dry mist it down before you pack it. After you get your base in with proper slope which is about 1" of drop over 10'. Then you need 2 pipes with a 1" outside diameter. You need to screed the sand so you get a nice level sand bed to lay the pavers on. You will want to start laying pavers in one corner and work your way across the patio. You will want to get your paver edge put in to the shape you want. You will most likely have to make cuts around the edges. Then you sweep sand in between the joints and run a packer over the patio. If you are using real stone slabs you don't need to run a packer over it when the slabs are all layed. I would not recommend using cement as a leveling bed.
Depending on how precise a person you are! I like to start and then finish as my perception of the site changes. You have your basic shape, so do the border when you complete the project.
Well first you need may have to dig out a few inches for a hardcore base. You need 20mm to dust and at least 3inch thick and quite level. Hire a wacker plate and compact the sub base firmly. Next you need cement and grit sand. Mix them at a ratio of 4x sand to 1x cement. Lay them by using the 5spot method. A spot of concrete mix in each corner of the slab and one in the middle. There is no need to make a concrete pad like some people do.
Do not lay onto soil without a sub-base or the slabs will sink eventually, this i can promise you. If u need any help or got any Q's u may e-mail me
I'm also laying a patio with stone and what I did was build the border first and then I filled in center like a puzzle. I did this because I wanted a border that was tight and fitted. I didn't care if the center was tight because I planned on filling in with ground cover or gravel. It's just a matter of preference and creativity. Do what you think you would like best.
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