How do you make a patio?

Street · 21 Apr 2011 at 11:49

As I'm off work for the next 11 days as of tomorrow I figured I might as well do something constructive and sort my patio out at my house.

At the moment, just outside the back door there is a small area made with horrible slabs leading onto a path that runs down the side of the house. I want to raise and level the whole top area out and then just have a step or something down to the path at the bottom so that I have a larger area thats more suitable for BBQs and to have a table and chairs there.

Here is a professional architects drawing that I had made up..

Before on the left and after on the right.

My question is, whats the best way of going about raising and leveling the top area out? I've never done anything like that before so I'm not too sure..

Also what the hell can I do with 15 massive 3x2 foot slabs that weigh about 60kg each?!

Street · 21 Apr 2011 at 12:02

Russinating said:
Isn't it supposed to be the other way round?

Well spotted thanks.. Editted it to make more sense!

_Gizka_ said:
I cannot offer any useful advice regarding the construction of the aforementioned patio, but what I can point out is that this thread needs pics!

You mean my professional quality plan isn't good enough?!

Street · 21 Apr 2011 at 20:00

Thanks for the replies!

The total patio area is about 3.2m x 5.7m and I need to raise about 3.2m x 3.8 of it up by 6inches to match the height of the rest.

Street · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:54

I was going to take up the horrible massive grey ones that are there at the moment and then find some nicer looking slabs to put down. I'm leaving the girlfriend in charge of the type and colour!

Street · 23 Apr 2011 at 13:03

Mark A said:
I hope you have a mate who will help you lift the old slabs. Wouldn't like to remove all them by myself! especially in this weather.

I moved 8 of them from the bottom of the garden the other week. It was hard work! Only got 10 more big ones and a few smaller ones to move from the patio area..

Am going to have to pay a mate some beer money to give me a hand as theres no way I'm moving the rest on my own.

crisbduck said:
I like your architect's usage of paint

I've heard its what all the best architects use!

Street · 4 Jun 2011 at 20:16

I figured I might as well post a photo with a bit of an update after I finally got around to doing something to my patio this weekend..

One skip full later, a lot of hard work and a couple bushes demolished, my patio now looks like this..

Going to get some MOT ordered in the week and put that down next weekend, just got to let the girlfriend choose the slabs now as apparently I have no taste or style.

Street · 4 Jun 2011 at 20:39

I'm not planning on raising it too much now like I originally planned, turns out the old one was much higher (above the damp course so I can't have it that high anyway!) but left an inch gap between the edge of the patio and the fence. The panels are a bit old anyway so when I replace them I'll probably do it with a concrete board to match the rest of the fencing.