How to lay a patio

Kevin Smith shows how to lay perfect paving. Photos by Jason Ingram

Reproduced from the November 06 issue of Gardeners' World magazine. This month's issue on sale now. Subscribe now by direct debit and save 25 per cent

A decent patio is usually right at the top of most gardeners' wish lists - a multi-purpose space where you can display your plants, entertain, and relax with family and friends. And one of the most effective ways of creating the patio you want is to lay individual paving slabs, something most of us can have a go at.

View this step-by-step guide with bigger pictures in our how to lay a patio photo gallery

Don't worry if you've never done any hard landscaping before, as our simple guide will lead you through each step of the process. We chose to use slate paving, but the choice of materials is endless (from sandstone to York stone to concrete), with something to suit every budget.

Whatever material you go for, the method is identical. November is the perfect time to get cracking on a hard-landscaping project, as there are fewer plantbased projects to keep you occupied.

This step-by-step guide will make laying a patio and achieving a professional finish a breeze, we promise! The key to success lies in the preparation, and if you get the ground even at the start, and cover it with hardcore rubble (you'll find this at most builders' merchants sold as MOT), you won't go wrong.

We recommend you use a wacker plate to level the ground (see our tools, below). Traditionally used to compact the sand base of driveways, it's also great for ironing out bumps in the ground. Although not essential, it may help to draw a scale plan of your patio so you can work out the shape and pattern of the slabs, along with the exact amount of materials you will need.

We used

Materials Hardcore material, MOT type 1 (Wickes, £35 per 850kg bag, 0870 608 9001, www.wickes.co.uk or your nearest branch)

Building sand (Wickes, £30 per 900kg bag, details as above)

Cement (Wickes, £3.29 for a 25kg bag, details as above) Natural slate Midnight Blue paving (Marshalls, from £32 per sq m, 0870 120 7474, www.marshalls.co.uk for stockists)

Woburn rumbled paviours (Bradstone, from £19.08 per sq m, 01335 372 289, www.bradstone.com for stockists) Tools
Shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, wooden level pegs, hammer, spirit level, plank of wood, wacker plate, cement mixer, rubber mallet, bolster chisel, pointing trowel. For tool hire, try www.hss.co.uk

First, remove any turf, plants or paving to a depth of about 15cm (6in) to allow room for the hardcore, mortar and paving slabs.

Now barrow in a 5-8cm (2-3in) layer of hardcore. Use a rake to distribute it, and even out any bumps. The rubble will form a good solid base for the patio and will stop you, and the site, getting muddy if it rains during construction.

Use a wacker plate to compact and level the hardcore. Although not essential, this stops the rubble moving around while you lay the slabs, making the base solid.

How to lay a patio - step by step

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Matt James (not verified) replied 32 weeks 5 days ago

You need to dig it out further and put either type 1 scalpings or 6-1 Ballast/cement lean mix on top of the hardcore before wackering it down for the patio to last. There is no mention on here about having the finished level of the patio TWO BRICK COURSES below the DPC of the house if it goes along the edge, nor for there to be a slight slope away from the house etc............