Patio Perfection

Patio Perfection.

With spring well and truly here, thoughts inevitably turn to preparing the garden for summer. Whether you dream of lazy days on a sun lounger, or having fun with friends around the barbeque, a patio can act as a transition area between house and garden, creating an area to entertain, dine and relax. A patio can provide you with an attractive outdoor space, and with some well chosen accessories, it’s also an extra 'room' that can be enjoyed all year round.

In these times of uncertainty in the housing market, it is worth considering that a stylish patio can increase a home's value above and beyond the price of the patio itself, and unlike many home improvement projects, there is usually no need for planning permission. Here are the five essential stages to getting the most out of your investment:

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Stage One – Time to call in the professionals?
The first thing to consider is whether to employ the services of a professional. You have a number of options here. Many landscape contractors will design, project manage and install your new patio, making it a relatively stress-free process. However, if you have very strong ideas on the look you would like to create, you may want to design and manage the patio yourself and then get the professionals in to do all the hard work! Of course, if you are competent at DIY you may decide to complete it all yourself, from design through to completion. However, remember that patios can be tricky to get right and are often very hard work, so this is not a decision to take lightly.

If you do decide to use a landscape contractor, it's best to rely on recommendations from family and friends, or to identify local companies that have been approved by The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) or The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) by using the search facilities on their websites. Try to get more than one quote (ideally three) for the work you want doing.

Stage Two – Making the best use of space
The obvious location for a patio is immediately outside the patio doors or the back door of the house. This way you have quick access to the kitchen when entertaining, and can easily keep an eye on children playing on the patio from the house. However, there are other considerations when deciding on the placement of your patio. Even if you're not a sun worshipper, it's a good idea to pick a sunny spot – after all, you can create shade, but you can't create sun. You could also consider using a spot that's sheltered from the wind, though it is always possible to create protection using shrubs, fencing, or perhaps a trellis screen.

You also need to think carefully about the size of your patio. What will you use the space for? If you're a fan of alfresco dining, think about how many people you want to be able to seat. As a minimum, a space of three metres square will allow enough space for a table and four chairs, while a bigger family or a couple who like to entertain will require a bigger space. However, be careful that your patio takes up no more than a quarter of your garden or it will dominate the space and make it appear smaller.

Stage Three – Choosing your materials
There are many materials to choose from when designing your patio, and there are several things to bear in mind. While gravel can be cheaper and easier to lay, furniture tends to sink into it and sit unevenly. While materials like brick, sandstone and slate are very attractive, they are also rather pricey, and non-porous materials can become very slippery when wet. Paving slabs are generally the most practical and affordable choice, and are now available in a whole range of colours and textures. It is a good idea to choose a colour that contrasts or complements the colour of the house, so if your house has light brickwork, choose dark materials for your patio and vice versa. However, when using light materials, do be mindful of glare. Also, darker slabs retain and radiate the heat of the day, creating a warm feeling well into the evening.

At this stage it is a good idea to consider which accessories will enhance the usability of this new space, so that you can work these into your budget. Your first purchase will inevitably be patio furniture, which is available in many different sizes, styles, shapes and materials.

There is also a wide range of patio heaters available, making your patio usable all year round. Fans of alfresco dining might like to invest in a state-of-the-art barbeque, while those who see their patio as a place to relax might like a water feature to be central to their design.

Stage Four – Preparing the ground
If you have decided to install the patio yourself, this part of the process is both the most important and the most difficult to get right. Many a patio has been ruined by uneven foundations! The first step is to mark out the area and remove turf, soil and stones to a depth of 15cm below the intended final height of the patio. Be aware that the level of the patio at the house wall must be at least 150mm below the damp proof course. This is usually visible as an extra wide line of mortar in the brickwork. Then put a layer of hardcore roughly seven centimetres deep, rake the entire area to ensure the material is evenly spread and use a wacker plate (these can be hired) to flatten out the area.

Next, use wooden pegs to mark the final height of the patio. Position several all over the patio site, using a spirit level to ensure they are all even. If you have chosen to build your patio next to the house, you must remember to include a slight gradient away from the building, so that rainwater runs off.

Stage Five – Installation and finishing off
Once the foundations are prepared you can lay your patio. Make a mortar mix of five parts building sand to one part cement. You could do the mixing in a wheelbarrow, but it's probably a good idea to hire a small cement mixer. Trowel five generous dabs of mortar on to the base and lay the first slab in place. If you have chosen to lay your patio up against the house, start against the wall. Tap the surface of the slab with a rubber mallet and check with a spirit level in both directions remembering to allow for the fall, using the string as a guide.

Continue to lay the remaining slabs in the same way, checking each slab with a spirit level as you go. Once you have laid several square metres, spread some mix on top and brush it into the joints. You may have to do this several times as the mix settles in. Laying a patio will take you several days, so with this in mind, at the end of each day wash down the slabs you've laid, making sure you remove any splattered mortar before it can harden and stain the paving. When the work is complete, you can sit back and admire a job well done!

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