The Beginner’s Guide to Garden Paving: What You Need to Know

A refresh to your garden may well be needed, and laying garden paving is a highly rewarding DIY project that can really transform your outdoor space. It requires careful planning, the right tools, and attention to your drainage to ensure a long-lasting finish. If you’re looking to create a solid foundation, it typically involves adding a compacted sub-base first to avoid the slabs from shifting or sinking over time.Let’s take a closer look at how to transform your garden with garden paving and everything you need to know.

Essential tools and materials to get started

There are several essential tools and materials you’ll need to get started on the work yourself. Use a tape measure, string lines, and pegs to mark out the desired area. A builder’s square can help ensure your corners are perfect at 90 degrees. Having a sturdy spade or shovel can be useful for excavation, as well as a wheelbarrow for moving all of the debris and materials. A spirit level helps for checking flatness and drainage slopes, and for larger areas, a vibrating plate compactor will help to firmly settle the sub-base you add to your garden.

A rubber mallet is a good way to gently tap slabs into place without cracking them. Using a pointing trowel will help fill gaps between the slabs.

Finally, make sure you have some PPE available, from safety goggles to heavy-duty gloves, to ensure protection against heavy slabs and abrasive cement.

Choosing the right paving material

The material you pick out should balance your budget, with the desired maintenance level and aesthetic. Some materials that are great for paving include:

• Natural stone 
• Porcelain paving
• Concrete

A step-by-step installation guide

To help install gardening paving successfully, here’s a useful step-by-step guide worth knowing.

• Plan and mark out

Firstly, draw a sketch of your design and use pegs and string to outline the dimensions. 

• Excavate the area

You’ll then want to dig down to a depth of around 150mm. This will account for the sub-base and the mortar bed, as well as the thickness of the slabs chosen. Consider low maintenance indian sandstone paving slabs if you need something effective but fuss-free when looking after them throughout the year.

• Lay the sub-base

Fill the area with 100mm of crushed stone and compact it thoroughly so that it is both firm and level.

• Prepare the mortar bed

Mix four parts of sharp sand with one part cement. This can then be spread onto the sub-base and should be around 30-40mm thick for each slab. Rather than using spots, the spread avoids any unstable slabs and cracks.

• Lay the slabs

It’s a good idea to dampen the back of the slab and then lower it into position. Using the rubber mallet, you should then leave a 10-15mm gap between said slabs.

• Jointing and finishing

After letting the mortar set for at least 24 hours, you’ll then want to fill the gaps with jointing sand or dedicated jointing compound to lock the slabs in place. These tips are a great beginner’s guide for anyone looking to master garden paving for the first time.