Installing a patio in the yard can turn your outdoor yard into an amazing gathering place. Using paving to create a patio is very economical and allows you to create an infinite variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It may take a lot of work to build a patio out of paving, but you can do it yourself from start to finish.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Buying Equipment
Step 1. Measure the area where you want to build your patio
You can determine how much paving to buy. Measure the length and width of the area to be covered with paving. Multiply the length and the width to get the area. This will give you the square footage of your patio.
If your patio is not square, but you want to use square paving, you'll need to estimate the square foot size. Another way is to use paving that is designed to be placed in a circle. For this type of paving you need other ways of measuring to determine how much paving is needed
Step 2. Decide on the paving you want to use for your patio
Paving comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and prices, so the decision is yours. When deciding which paving you will use, calculate the total cost to cover the entire area. Some paving is sold per square foot and some is sold per unit block. Small pavers may be inexpensive individually but can be expensive once purchased to cover your entire square foot area.
- To determine the amount of paving required, multiply the square foot area of the patio by the desired square foot size (the number will be on the price tag or listed in the product specification), and you will get the required amount of paving. For example, if you want to build a patio with an area of 100 square feet and the paving you need is 4 square feet, multiply 100 by 4 and the total amount of paving you need is 400. When you get that number, you can find out the total price for that specific paving. by multiplying the amount of paving required by the unit price of paving.
- Remember, paving can be arranged in a variety of patterns; a salesperson at a garden supply store can offer advice if you can't decide.
Step 3. Purchase paving and other equipment
You need more than just paving to make a patio. A patio also includes a layer of gravel and sand under the paving, and a barrier to keep the paving from shifting. All of this equipment must be purchased before the project begins.
- To determine the amount of gravel and sand you need to purchase, determine the volume of the space you want to fill or the square feet and square yards. The gravel layer should be at least 10 cm deep and the sand should be 2.5 cm thick, so this should be multiplied by the square foot of the patio. This measurement will give you the required cubic feet information. If the measurement fails, consult the seller at the home improvement store. He should be able to help you determine how much sand and gravel you need for the square foot of your patio.
- When buying paving, make sure to buy at least 10 percent more than your plan. The paving blocks may break or you may need to cut more paving to fill the patio to the limit.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Surface
Step 1. Check for underground pipes and cables before digging
Before digging into your yard, be sure to check with a public utilities company to see if there are underground cables or pipes in your yard. If you live in the US, there are many local agencies but information about who to call in certain areas can usually be obtained by calling 811. This number will put you in touch with the local agency. Don't make the mistake of assuming that there are no cables or pipes. public facilities in the area to be excavated! Better to prevent than cure.
Step 2. Mark the patio area
Measure the dimensions of your patio and mark it on the ground with pegs at each corner of the boundary. Tie thread or thin rope from one peg to another to create a patio border. This will give you a good idea of how the paving will fit in the garden, and ensure that you only dig up the soil where the patio is.
To keep your patio tall from the start, it's a good idea to make sure the area divider string is measured (home supply stores sell small liquid level gauges that can be hung on the divider). If the dividing threads are equalized, you can measure down from the thread at each step, and your measurements will always start at the same point
Step 3. Dig the soil
Dig 15-20 cm deep by digging and removing all soil in the marked area. The depth you dig will vary depending on the thickness of the paving and how much gravel you will be placing. This excavation will create space so that your paving will be level with the surrounding soil.
- Tilt the entire area slightly in the direction you want the water to drain off the patio paving. Place the plank across the area, then measure the level from the ground to the plank to get the slope you want.
- Area and height delimiters will be very useful. Measure from the thread to the rest of the patio space, to make sure you're digging at a consistent depth. You can even add temporary yarn across the area to determine if the center is the same height or not.
Step 4. Add a gravel base to the area
Pour a 10-15 cm layer of gravel into the patio trench and compact it with soil compactor, also known as slab compactor. Spray water around the gravel to wet it so the rock can be compacted more easily.
- If you don't have a compactor, you may be able to rent one at a hardware store.
- Again, measure the height of the boundary threads to make sure your pebbles are the same height across the entire patio area. It doesn't need to be perfect, in fact it should tilt slightly from the house nearby, but it should still give you a clear rough idea.
Step 5. Add a layer of sand on top of the gravel and compact it
The sand layer should be about 2.5 cm thick and adjusted to the height of the gravel. This is the last layer before you put the paving blocks, so make sure the surface is smooth. After placing the sand and compacting it, put two pipes with a diameter of the desired height of sand, separate the two pipes by more than 150 cm and then press the two pipes into the sand. To ensure a flat surface, take a 2x4 block of wood, place it on top of the two pipes, then pull it so that the sand is leveled to the level of the pipe. Once the area is the same height, take the pipe out of the sand. You'll find two lines of pipe marks, but the overall sand will be the same height and ready for paving.
You may have to move the gauge to several locations, depending on how big the patio is. Keep in mind that you will need to make the entire patio completely level
Part 3 of 4: Laying Paving
Step 1. Lay the paving in the pattern you want
Start at one corner and keep the paving blocks as close to each other as possible. When you press down on the paving, lightly beat it with a rubber mallet until the paving is firm against the sand.
Always check the height while you are working. The entire patio should be the same height as you work on it. If one paving is higher, hit it with a rubber mallet until it is the same height. If it's lower, don't be afraid to pull it back up, add sand, and put it back in. It's easier to do it now than later. This is where boundary threads will help you again. While you can use a level across the paving, measuring the distance from the yarn will also help to level things out
Step 2. Cut the paving to fit around the barrier
If the patio needs to fit around trees or fences, cut the paving with a diamond blade cutter. This can be obtained by renting from the nearest building shop, and can be a good investment if you have a lot of obstacles when laying paving.
If the barrier is just a little, you can try a more creative way. If there is any remaining space that requires small paving strips, you can fill it with round gravel, or cover it with plants. This will save the energy and time required to complete the entire project
Step 3. Install the edging on the edge of the patio
There are various materials for patio edging, such as metal, plastic, and wood. After the paving is installed, secure the edging on the outside of the paving ledge by nailing long nails in the edging, with a gap of approximately two feet between the nails. Whatever type of edging is chosen, it can keep the paving in place, preventing it from sliding off the patio.
Part 4 of 4: Surface Finishing
Step 1. Fill the gaps between the pavings with sand
Cover the entire surface of the paved patio with the sand you used to make the base layer. Use a broom to flatten the sand until all the gaps in the paving are covered with sand. If you find gaps between the paving add more sand to the gaps. This may have to be done many times.
Step 2. Solidify the patio
Place a thick rag or cardboard fold in the base of the compactor and compact the entire patio. When compacting, make sure the entire patio is on the same level. You want your paving to stick well to the sand and last as long as possible. Don't be afraid to add a bit of force when compacting. You don't want to damage the newly installed paving, but the paving will be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the compactor if you add a little padding to the base of the compactor.
Step 3. Finish the patio ledges
Fill any area on the edge of the patio with soil, gravel, clump, or other ground cover. In essence, you should cover the space on the edge of the patio with any material that matches your yard.
Step 4. Polish the paving with a sealer
Although paving can last a long time without being polished, polishing the paving every few years can make your patio look beautiful, preventing stains and damage. Use a sealer recommended by the paving manufacturer.
Tips
- Consider hiring a soil compactor for this project, as it will make it easier for you to create a stable paving patio.
- Some building shops sell a range of patio paving. The set contains the equipment you need to size and design a patio. Although the price of this set can be cheap or expensive depending on the equipment, it can help you complete all the ingredients more easily.
