DIY Slate Raised Patio

[Too Late]

Hi all

After working on the house for 2 years i thought this summer i would start on the patio. The idea is to create a seamless floor space just outside the bifolds. Going to be laying 300 x 600mm slate tiles, the same size at the ones inside the house but significantly thicker and frost proofed

I have never laid a brick before this, so dont critique me too harshly.

The design




Because i am raising the patio to the DMP level, i have to include a 200x200mm channel around the building walls.

Foundations dug and measured


























Hopefully this week, i build the step out into the garden and finish the front wall.
Cant really build the last wall untill i have wheeled all the subbase round otherwise i wont be able to get the subbase to the corner of the property without having to shovel it by hand

[Andehh]

Looks very nice, I'd love to do something similar but inevitably that would mean we can see much more of the neighbours garden due to the fence running alongside the patio. Shame really!

[wolfracesonic]

Looks like you've been/are going to be busy. Is that a 200mm x 200mm 'trench' that's going to be abutting the house wall or a linear drain type arrangement?

[SavanP]

Looks like you are going about the correct way.

Foundation is key in this situation. Some people would just build up the ground and plonk the slates on top. Never will be a lasting finish with the method.

Look forward to the completed photos!

[Impasse]

That's going to be really nice with all those doors flung wide open.

[Too Late]

wolfracesonic said:

Looks like you've been/are going to be busy. Is that a 200mm x 200mm 'trench' that's going to be abutting the house wall or a linear drain type arrangement?

Thanks all.

The 200mmx200mm "trench" will be in filled with a decorative stone or slate. While the foundation was drying i was able to press a section of guttering into the foundations to create a flow to exit away under the blocks into a land drain pipe away from the property. I also ensured DMP was laid up against the walls before laying the foundation.

Hopefully i can crack on for a few hours during the week. I lay about 40 bricks in about 1 and 1/2 hours. My friends whose a brickie does about 1000 a day!!!

[Too Late]

A quick question.
When i laid the front garden, i rented a wacker vibration plate to compact the subbase. Do i really need to do that at the back for my raised patio, or could i use a trench tamper


Current progress last night:
Ran the first run of bricks around the front of the wall detailing the step. To avoid using some of the more expensive bricks, i bought some cheap ones to run at the back of the step which wont be seen

Edited by Too Late on Tuesday 17th May 08:23

[wolfracesonic]

Wacker every time, a hand rammer doesn't even come close to what even the smallest petrol wacker can do. A hand rammer gets pretty hard work after 10 minutes as well.

[Too Late]

Most of the wall has now been built and we are filling the patio in









Oustanding:
Cut the patio floor lights into the 4 corners of the block boundary.
Wire lights in and test
Keep infilling.
Move subbase in
Build final wall.
Wacker down!

[Too Late]

Cabled the lights in this weekend
I think drilling the holes in the fenlite blocks and ruined my HDS titan drill

[8-P]

Wish I had a)time and b)skill

Skill is my main issue! This looks like its going to be really good when done, would love to do the same

[eps]

Very nice!! Good job

[Too Late]

Thanks chaps.
Skill.... youtube is the most visited website (along with PH). That is how i learnt to lay bricks, I havent laid a single brick before this!
Thats why the photo was taken in the dark

Edited by Too Late on Tuesday 31st May 15:26

[Too Late]

Slate is arriving Tuesday
Subbase all in, just need to whack it down







Looking forward to finishing it now
Bought a Chinese 90mm tile cutter to try and cut circles in the corners for the patio lights in to the slate.

[Craikeybaby]

That looks really good, have you got the slate down now?

[Too Late]

Quick update on progress.

I am now jointing the tiles. Then i will give them all a wash then seal them

[PAULJ5555]

Looks good, what will you do with the 200x200 trench? It will just fill with leaves/rubbish. If you fill with gravel your just back up to DPC level.

The gap doesn't look 200mm, could just be the picture thou.

Edited by PAULJ5555 on Monday 1st August 13:24

[guindilias]

Aco drains would finish it nicely...

[Too Late]

PAULJ5555 said:

Looks good, what will you do with the 200x200 trench? It will just fill with leaves/rubbish. If you fill with gravel your just back up to DPC level.

The gap doesn't look 200mm, could just be the picture thou.

Edited by PAULJ5555 on Monday 1st August 13:24

Thanks
The trench is actually about 200mm wide and 250mm deep.

I looked at the aco drains but looking at paving expert, because its the same level as the DPM, it was safer to have the trench.

The trench will be filled with a grey coloured stone.

Edited by Too Late on Tuesday 2nd August 08:13

[EauRouge]

Looks really cool! Nice job.