We all love to have a nice garden and an essential aspect of that is a terrace, or a patio, as they are both the same. This platform is the ideal place to rest and relax and if you are thinking of going down the DIY road, this article was written with you in mind.
Decide on the Size and Location
Generally speaking, a patio should be at least 10m x 5m, or considerably larger if you have the available space. Of course, it is ideal if the patio joins with the rear of the house, although some people do prefer a stand-alone design.
Choose the Materials
When building a patio, any of the following materials can be used:
- Timber Decking
- Ready Mixed Concrete
- Block Paving
- Man-Made Pavers
- Crazy Paving
- Natural Stone
When ordering materials, use the timber and builders merchants in Sevenoaks who would deliver all the materials to your site, and you should cover up any cement bags until they are ready to be used.
The Ground Preparation
The site must be excavated to a depth of at least 6 inches, even more of you plan to use block paving, and you can hire a mini-digger, which would handle the dig in only a couple of hours. You will need to hire a suitable sized skip to remove this soil, unless you plan to use it to build a rockery, which is often a good idea. Hardcore needs to be impacted into the patio area to give a solid base, then a layer of sand and finally the patio itself, which is the final stage.
The Finishing Touches
Once the patio is installed, you can add the retaining walls for the flower beds, edging stones and any steps that are included in the design. It is important to have the patio sloping very slightly away from the house, which gives rainwater a path to escape, and with everything cleaned up, your new patio is ready to be used.
