If you’re looking to breathe a new lease of life into your outdoor space, or are looking for a new do-it-yourself project, laying new paving is a great undertaking to consider. Doing this work can help save you money and also give you a strong sense of accomplishment, so we definitely recommend it.

Here at Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited, we have an impressive range of reclaimed paving slabs available in our online store, so we have put together a guide for laying paving slabs below.

What You’ll Need

  • Shovel
  • Rubber mallet
  • String line
  • Protective gear
  • Spirit level
  • Pointing trowel
  • All in one ballast
  • Sharp and building sand
  • Cement
  • Water

1. Dry Lay Slabs

To make sure your paving slabs are going to fit correctly and as you imagined, it is best to ‘dry lay’ your slabs first. This is just setting them out on the ground in the intended layout to check measurements, sizes, and that you have enough blocks.

2. Foundations

Now you need to consider the foundations for your paving. You should account for 150mm in height for the foundations and the paving, so this must inform where you place your paving slabs and whether you will need to dig out the foundations.

If you’re planning on placing your paving next to your house, you also need to take into consideration the damp-proof course. Your paving needs to be 150mm below this coursing, which usually means you will need to dig out your foundations by 300mm.

3. Foundations Base

When creating the base for your foundations, you need to make a mixture of six parts ‘all in one’ ballast and one part cement. In this mixture, you should add enough water to bind it together without making it sloppy.

You should then use this mixture to cover the area of the paving to 75mm, levelling out and tapping down using a length of timber.

4. Mortar

You must then create a mortar mixture by adding six parts of sharp sand and one part cement, again, adding just enough water to make the mixture workable.

Paving slabs need to be laid on a full bed of mortar, so bear this in mind when making this mixture of mortar.

5. Laying Paving Slabs

With it now being time to lay the paving slabs themselves, you need to first prepare by laying two taut strings to guide the level and the line; one should span the length and the other from side to side. One of these lines should also take into consideration the drainage fall.

When it comes to actually laying the paving slabs, you should start in one corner and work outwards. The mortar needs to be spread to cover an area slightly larger than the paving slab itself so that it can be tapped down to the correct level.

When you are tapping down the paving slabs, use the rubber mallet and hit firmly (being cautious to not break the slab) at points midway between the centre of the slab and each corner, diagonally. Tap these areas in succession until the flag settles to the correct level. Check each paving slab is level, accounting for fall, as you work through.

After following in the same vein for the remaining slabs, leaving joints as required, you should now leave the paving slabs to settle for at least 24 hours before walking on or continuing work.

6. Jointing

Using a mortar mix of three parts soft building sand and one part cement, mixed slowly with a little water to ensure it’s smooth and damp, again, not sloppy. Plasticiser can also be added to the mixture to make it easier to work.

Trowel this mixture into the joints, pressing down and smoothing using a pointing bar if necessary. In this process, you should be careful not to get mortar on the paving slabs.

A Great Project

Once you have an overview for how the process should work and what your end goal is with your DIY paving project, laying paving slabs is a simple matter of following the above guidelines and working carefully and considerately.

Paving can be a great addition to the outdoor space of your home and it can be gratifying to be able to carry out this work yourself.

Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited

Are you looking for paving slabs to carry out a paving project of your own? Then look no further than Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited in Rugeley. We have an impressive range of slabs, blocks, and stones that are reclaimed and full of character to help you bring a unique and original look to your paving while working sustainably.

If you would like to hear more, or enquire about any of our products, please get in touch with us by calling 01889 574066 or filling out our simple contact form.