LANDSCAPING
How do I lay paving on a DIY basis?
Allow 150mm for the foundation, mortar bed and paving. If you are laying directly next to a house then the finished patio should be at least 150mm below the damp-proof course (DPC). This means you’ll need to dig the area to a minimum depth of around 300mm below the DPC. To ensure water doesn’t collect on the paving, the foundation needs a fall of 1 in 60, either to a suitable drainage or run-off area, such as the lawn, which means 1cm of fall for every 60cm of width, for example, a 3m run will need a fall of 5cm. To create a firm base, cover the whole area with MOT Type 1 gravel sub-base to a minimum depth of 100mm when fully compacted. A compactor plate is essential to do this properly. The back of the slabs should be primed with a polymer-modified cementitious primer to aid adhesion to the mortar bed and prevent movement in years to come. Lay the slabs on a 30mm-thick full mortar bed, which should support the whole slab and not just the corners. Use
