Laying paving slabs

[madmondeo]

Tomorrow i am going to attempt to laying about a dozen or so paving slabs for my shed to sit on. Whats the best way to go about this? I have just dug out all the shrubs from the raised bed where the shed is going to to go. I have dug the whole area about a foot deep all around to remove all roots etc. the size is approx 7x4'

do i lay them on a membrane first? use sand to sit them on? what gap between slabs to i leave? when finished do i brush something over them to finish the job off?

[buildersmate]

No reason to put on membrane - its dark under there so nothing will try and grow.
It helps to sit the slabs on sharp sand because it makes getting them level easier, but one doesn't have to.
There's no reason to leave any gap or brush anything over - you just want the flat and levewl surface. Use a spirit level to get this.

[Hawkwalk]

make sure the ground is solid otherwise the slabs will sink over time and become uneven which is not ideal for a base. I would tamper down some small hardcore before laying a sand bed if the ground is not already hard. I would also cement them in to prevent them from ever moving. Just a blob under each one will hold it.

[gazzawazza]

This website is very good for all paving related queries, www.pavingexpert.com .
Personally I prefer to lay slabs on a normal mortar bed of soft sand and cement as I think they're easier to level that way.