What’s better than enjoying a cold pint on your patio on a warm summer Irish evening. Or slowly waking up with a cup of coffee and a slow not-too-cold morning breeze. A beautiful patio is a must for all homeowners.

However, laying a patio doesn’t have to be daunting or too much of a chore. If you have some hand skills and extra time, you can easily do it yourself. Especially if you use the next few tips you will find in this blog post. 

Important Tools & Materials for Laying a Patio

Let’s start with covering the tools you will need to successfully lay your patio. Keep in mind that great and careful preparation is the cornerstone of any home building project. Whether you are doing it alone or hiring contractors.

With that said, here are the tools you will need:

  • Trowel
  • Rake
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Spirit level
  • Tape measure
  • String line and the peg is optional but extremely helpful
  • Rubber mallet to put those paving slabs in their place
  • Shovel

Now we go for the materials:

  • Paving slabs
  • Sub-base aggregate
  • Sand 
  • Cement

Depending on your wishes and ideas, you could choose different paving material, but here we are going for a basic setup. On with the tips!

Tips For Successfully Laying a Patio

As you already know, laying a patio isn’t too difficult. However, it does require some knowledge on preparation, the best sand to use, and the concrete to sand ratio. Here are some tips that will save you a lot of headaches.

1. Which sand to use?

You can use sand in one of two ways. One is to cover the ground with it and lay your paving slabs directly on it, a viable option. And the other is to mix it with cement to create concrete.

Regardless of your choice, you should choose sharp sand. Sharp sand is perfect for patios because it prevents moles and rats from tunnelling underneath the slabs.

2. How to Mix Concrete to Lay Your Patio

The ratio to mix concrete is three parts sand and one part cement. An easy way to do it is to find a large and thick plastic sheet and mic sand with cement over it. The next step is to add water to the mix until you have a dough-like mixture.

The mixture is at the right consistency when you can make a ball in your hand and when you try to squeeze it doesn’t ooze water but it also doesn’t fall apart. 

3. The Height of Your Patio

There is an extremely important tip you can use if you are laying your patio next to your house. The surface of your patio should be at least 150 mm below the level of your damp proof course. 

The damp-proof course is a barrier preventing moisture from rising. If you don’t lay your patio 15 centimetres below the course, you could create damp problems in your home.

Do You Need More Help?

Laying a patio can easily be done with your own hands. However, sometimes you need some more work around the house. 

Maybe you are looking for the perfect driveway services or another service we can help you with. If you have something in your mind we can help you with, let us know on 045 896 261 / 00353 87 257 0867 or send us an email to learn more.