The word patio calls to mind an image of splendid sun-drenched days spent sipping chilled drinks under the welcome shade of an umbrella. From simple concrete slabs to colorful tile laid in intricate patterns, patios enhance outdoor living space. Homeowners handle the installation for all but the grandest of patios Sydney within the span of a single weekend. The key to getting professional results is planning, if not then you can contact the trusted patio builders in Sydney. Here are some things that you need to know before you start on a patio building project.
Planning Your Patio
The first step is to assess your needs and determine how your family will use the patio. To facilitate serving and cleanup build the patio within striking distance of the kitchen. Consider opting for stain-resistant patio material upon which your furniture could easily slide. If you like to sunbathe on the Patio site the installation of your yard with the best sun exposure. If your patio fantasies are snoozing peacefully on a gently swaying hammock, choose a shady spot near a side of the house from which an owner may be extended.
Once the location is done and reviewed applicable zoning and setback requirements, use string and stakes to outline the perimeter. Live with the area marked off for a few days to be sure that you have chosen wisely. Do note that you can always hire bluestone pavers Sydney to do the following for you.
Installing a Patio Yourself
Prepare The Site
Having established the size and location of your planned patio, set a stake into each corner of the parameter. Tie a string between the stakes, use a line level to make sure the string remains at a fixed height off the ground. Dig the area between the stakes, allow 6 inches for sand and gravel plus additional depth is required to accommodate the height of the pavers. For water runoff, the finished patio should be a little higher than the ground level. Within the excavated area, use the string and a story pole to establish a 1/ 8 inch per foot slope that runs away from the house. Tamp down the exposed earth.
Establish The Edge
Insert edging, as simple as plastic or aluminium or as involved as braced two by fours around the patio site.
Add the Fill
Lay down a layer of heavy-duty landscaping fabric for extra support and to enable the growth of weeds from beneath the patio. Fill the hole you have dug with 4 inches of gravel, tamp down. Follow the gravel with two inches of tamped down sand. See that the sand is even and conforms to the designated slope. Screed the sand with scrap wood or use a long pole.
Pave the Surface
It’s time to lay down the pavers. Place the pavers on top of the sand, set them by means of a rubber mallet.
Fill Again
Fill the space between the pavers with more sand, sweep off the excess and it is done. For a more permanent fill between the pavers, use polymeric joint sand. Another option is to leave larger gaps between the paving stones, planting a ground cover like moss, clover, or creeping thyme in the spaces. The resulting look integrates your efforts with those of mother nature.
The Patio should look and feel like a natural extension of your home, if placed away from the house – it should fit seamlessly into the landscape. Watch the ways the sun falls over the area and monitor the amount of debris that builds up from trees and bushes. Grade your patio in such a way as to prevent standing water, it’s best to avoid planning your patio for a low spot on the property.
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