How to Lay a Small Garden Patio, A COMPLETE GUIDE. 10 EASY STEPS!

1. Excavate the site, dig around a foot or 30cm.
2. Fill hole with hardcore (rubble, building waste)
3. Compact using lump hammer or 'whacker plate'.
4. Lay out patio nearby to establish size, scope and position of stones.
5. Prepare your work area, have a large space for mixing, lay a board to mix mortar on, wet the board.
6. Prepare your materials (Builders sand, general purpose cement, water, washing up liquid)
7. Prepare your tools, shovel/spade, plank, spirit level, trowel, rubber hammer, hose.
8. Mix the 'muck' DRY INGREDIENTS FIRST - it is lighter and easier. (Mortar somewhere between 3:1 sand:cement and 5:1 sand:cement, depending on expected volume of 'traffic'. Add more cement for a harder result. Add a small squirt of washing up liquid).
9. Gradually add water and mix until desired consistency. Soft enough to manipulate but firm enough to support the tile/flag/bricks.
10. Level each flag individually and relative to its neighbour, allow a slight slope so that rain runs off and does not puddle.
Additional tips: Remember, take your time, don't panic, you have several hours before the cement is set. Then leave it for 48 hours at least before use. The patio can be pointed using a damp crumbly mix of 4:1 sand cement. Press into cracks and allow the damp air to be absorbed in to harden over time. Always brush off excess mortar before drying to avoid staining.
#patiodesign #patioideas #patio #gardening #diy #doityourself #marksgardenuk #gardendesign
Please also visit my website: www.marksgardenUK.com
email: [e-mail]

[@muddyboots2531]

This is a very good video. Female, hate building, want a small patio near plants I care about. Do not trust a builder not to damage. I have found the perfect tutorial.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thank you. And if you take it easy like me and do it in stages. The small pieces make it perfectly possible. 😊

[@GhtMine-gk5ri]

You're really uplifting my spirit here

[@tonymulreid6347]

Really well put together Mark, well done. "Relatively level", I smiled when you said that. A common phrase for all us non tradesmen!!

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Lol i know, i use the word regularly to cover up a multitude of sins. The patio surface is level though.. Relatively 😂

[@Knapper94]

Crazy how much the tropical border in the background has grown from when it was shown a couple of months ago !

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi Michael. I know, especially the last few weeks, it's really taken off. I'm about to top dress it with manure. It should go crazy. Mark

[@colinwilson7134]

Brilliant job Mark 👊👊👊

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Colin. I surprised myself with it. Blinking hard work but I'm very chuffed.

[@PeterEntwistle]

Great video Mark, looks like you've done a great job 👍

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Peter. I've just stepped on it for the first time. 3 days drying, solid as a rock. Mark

[@trevormeredith1169]

Amazing Mark , can’t wait to see the finished project ,you always put your heart and soul into everything you create , great knowledge

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Trevor xxx hope you are well xxx

[@ianbateman2555]

Mark looks absolutely fantastic, you are so artistic and talented and I enjoy watching your videos 👍

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thank you Ian. I appreciate your support from the start.

[@holderofpots]

Good Job, thanks for the ideas 👍

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thank you. Glad you liked it and i appreciate you watching. Mark

[@deniseb7013]

Great job I love it. Can’t wait to see it finished.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Denise. I'm hoping to make progress with the planting out this week. It will be interesting to see if the tree ferns have made any roots in their pots. Thanks again. Mark

[@chrisdooney5374]

Great job looks lovely

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Chris, i must confess i have surprised myself!

[@helenanders5532]

Super video Mark 😊

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Helen. See you soon x

[@maldwyn1]

Big ups Big John

[@asianangie7209]

What a great idea to use recycled materials for substrate by just crushing it with a hammer!

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks Angie. It was hard work but it gave me a good feeling. Less landfill and less expense. Quite a 'green' solution

[@GhtMine-gk5ri]

Where's the next part?

[@Blue60]

Hi just seen your video, I’m starting to lay a circle paving soon first time like yourself, can you say what size spacing between your slabs cheers

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi. Mine were kind of bevelled. Narrower at the top. So when i layed the set it was more or less touching in most areas at the base of each tile. With about 2cm gap near the top for pointing. I didn't measure it out precisely. Just kind of layed it and squidged them up to each other. Mark

[@pippashepherd242]

How may hours did it take to do that? It looks incredible, thank you.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks pippa. I completed this job in an afternoon. The mixing was quite labour intensive. A bigger area would require a portable mixer in my opinion x

[@rockyrowlands3652]

The army has a term: Economy of Effort. You were doing a lot of hand mixing which I know is tiresome. For anyone doing these projects or enthusiastic DIY, a small cement mixer is worth its weight in gold and saves a lot of fatigue. Also, I personally tend to over engineer and would have used a slurry mix on the underside of each slab. Slurry mix is easy to make just pour a little SBR bonding agent in a bucket and add some cement and mix into a paste, and will guarantee a good cement slab bond especially I’d the underside of the slab is a little dusty. Anyway, great job on your patio project.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Thanks for this. I learned about slurry mix after the event and will definitely do it next time. You're right about the mixer. But I did save a few quid at least. Thanks again. Mark