Paving is an attractive addition to any garden. Use it to create a path or an entertaining area that needs no mowing and can be used in all weather.

It is not difficult to lay pavers however it is vital to the final appearance and the durability of the paving that the ground be well prepared and level at the start. If the ground beneath pavers is not level or has soft areas then undulations will develop over time as the soft ground sinks.

Paving Tips:

  • Use timber pegs and a string line to mark out the edges of the area to be paved.
  • Make a decision about whether the finished paving should be set in flush with the surrounding ground or sit above the ground and have an edge frame of timber. Edge forms can be constructed using 100 x 50mm timber and 50 x 25mm stakes. Plywood will be needed to create curves.
  • Consider whether the paving needs to have a slight slope to drain water away from an adjacent building. Most paving should have a slope of approx 25mm across every 2 metres.
  • A base of well compacted sand or fine gravel up to 150mm thick will be needed to absorb movement resulting from changing temperatures.
  • The subsoil and base can be compacted using a heavy roller.

Types of Paving Materials:

Base Material Types and Methods General Tips

 Bricks

pavers brick bluetongue 2 s

  

 Dry sand bed:

25 to 50 mm thick bed of sand, compacted firmly and leveled.

 Lay the bricks on the leveled sand bed with 5 to 10 mm spaces. Tap with a mallet to level and set into the bed. Spread fine sand on the finshed paving and sweep it back and forth until the spaces are filled with sand.

   Bricks can be cut using a brick saw. These can be hired. Manual cutting can also be done with a wide chisel and a mallet and with the brick seated on a bed of sand. It satkes practice.

 

Bricks laid on a bed of sand require a border to keep them in place and prevent the bricks at the edges from moving and collapsing the paving. Borders can be made of timber of concrete.

Dry mortar bed:

50 mm thick bed of sand mixed with cement. Mix the bed using 2 bags of cement in each 10 square metres of the bed. Calculate amount of sand by using length, width, and depth of sand bed to work out cubic metres of sand.

 Place the pavers with 5 to 10 mm spaces. Spray the pavers with a fine mist of water. Allow to dry for about 24 hrs. Mix 1 part mortar to 4 parts sand and use this to fill the spaces. Spray again with a fine mist of water and allow to dry. 

Wet mortar bed:

25 to 50 mm bed of sand topped with a 75 mm thick concrete slab. Spread a 15 mm thick bed of mortar on the slab and set bricks into it while it is wet. Spread about 2 sq metres of mortar then set bricks before it sets and then spread another area of mortar.

 

 Bricks laid on a wet mortar bed need to be wet thoroughly before setting into place on the bed. Use a length of timber to level the work. Firmly set each brick well into the bed.

Concrete

  concrete paving 2786216 640

Image by Kamil Hakov from Pixabay

Level the area and then use a roller to compact the earth really well. Spread a 25 to 50 mm thick bed of sand and level it. 

 Use 50 x 100 mm timber to construct forms. 50 x 25 mm wodden pegs can be used to hold the sides of the form in place. Curves can be included using plywood.

Dig a trough about 150 mm deep around the edge just insed the form to keep the slab firmly in position.

Lay weldmesh over the area at about the level of half way up the depth.

Mix 1 part cement to 2.5 parts sand and 2.5 parrts crshed gravel aggregate. Add 30 L of water for each bad of cement used.Mix well and use quickly before it starts to set. Pour the mix into the form and level with a length of timber. Use a steel trowel to smooth the surface.

 Council inspection may be required in some areas and for some types of slabs. Check with your local Council.

Stone

pavers

Well watered and compacted earth topped with 50 to 100 mm of sand Stone is available as cut evenly shaped blocks or rough irregular shapes. Slate and sandstone are common types. Sandstone slabs are commonly about 50 mm thick. Slate is usually cut to regular sizes.

Tile

  construction 1713851 640

Image by olgag_kz from Pixabay

 Level the area. Use a roller to compact the earth really well. Spread a 50 mm thick layer of gravel and top with a 50 mm layer of sand. Level both layers. Spread a 75 mm thick concrete slab.  Use a 15 mm bed of mortar to set tiles on a concrete slab.

 Tiles are available in a wide variety of sizes and materials.

Tile cutters can be hired.

Timber

garden path s

 Well watered and compacted earth topped with a 100 mm layer of sand.

 Timbers such as redwood, iron bark or cedar are durable as paving. Treated hardwoods are also a good choice.  Timber used as paving should not be allowed to come into contact with the structure of a building as termites may be able to use it as a way in to the building.