Laying a patio with slabs.

[stanwilcock]

What is the ideal way to lay slabs to create a patio? Some people do it with scalpings and sharp sand/cement, others with wet concrete then building sand/cement, The ground has already been hardcored. Is there a correct way?

[stanleyman]

I always used to lay 3 or 4 inches of concrete and set the slabs into it. They never moved or cracked!

[andyjevs]

I always lay a sharp sand base which is trodden down, watered and left to fully settle.

I then lay the slabs on 5 blobs of wet motor per slab.

Been fine for me for years

[BillyNoMates]

I use a dry mix of 4 parts sand to cement. Get the slabs nice and level - use temporary wooden edging to stop the dry mix moving at the edges.

Then water gently between the cracks with a spray - watering can or hose.

Allow to set, then just point the gaps.

[rosyrussell]

If find the following website invaluable for any landscaping queries - some of it is a bit technical, but it has some great calculating tools for working out how much materials are needed. www.pavingexpert.com