What Goes With Outdoor Food? A Patio, of course
If you like to dine al fresco in the summer months, building a patio will make a stylish platform for your table and chairs. It’s a DIY job that takes a bit of hard work, but it’ll be well worth the effort in the end.
Using pegs and string take care to mark out the area of your patio, nudging the size to avoid cutting the slabs.
Dig the area to a depth of 15cm (but go a further 15cm below the damp-proof course if you’re building beside the house). Tap in some wooden pegs to jut 10cm above the surface, and fill the area with hardcore up to the tips.
If you’re beside the house, use a spirit level to angle the hardcore – water must drain away from the building, not towards it! Make sure to compact the hardcore with a vibrating plate or a board.
Starting from a fence, a wall, or the house, lay the slabs loosely to check that you like the arrangement. Mix one part cement with five parts building sand and spread a bed of mortar 5–8 cm thick over the hardcore.
Lay the slabs on top, tapping them into place with a lump hammer. Use a spirit level to check they’re level or sloping properly from the house (remember to leave 1 cm spaces for grouting). Leave for at least 24 hours.
Finally, mix three parts building sand with one part cement and fill in the grout spaces with a pointing trowel. Let it dry for a few days. Before you know it, it’ll be time for Pimms on the patio.
Picture Courtesy of justinbaeder
