Laying paving slabs can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not used to doing DIY jobs around the house or garden. However, if you follow these steps and prepare your area beforehand then it will make the process much easier.
Cut the Grass to a Manageable Level
It’s important to cut the grass to a manageable level before you start laying paving slabs on top of it. Cut the grass with a sharp mower so that it is similar in height to the paving slabs, but don’t go too high or you’ll make it difficult for yourself when laying them out.
I cut my lawn about 3cm high and that was fine – anything higher than this can be tough going when working with small pieces of stone and gravel like those used in paving slab construction. If your lawn is really thick, consider using a strimmer instead, as this will allow more flexibility when preparing your surface for paving slab installation!
Clear Leaves and Debris From the Area You Have Chosen to Lay the Paving Slabs
Clear leaves and debris from the area you have chosen to lay the paving slabs. Make sure that no plants are growing in this area, especially if you are using paving slabs for a garden path or patio area, such as the sandstone or limestone slabs from Midland Stone.
Use a rake or leaf blower to remove any leaves, small plants, and debris from the surface of your grass. If there is a large amount of grass or other plant material that needs removing then use a hoe or shovel to remove them carefully so as not to damage the roots of other plants nearby.
Begin Laying the Slabs by Placing the First Slab With Enough Space for the Cement to Be Laid
Now that you know how much space you need to leave, it’s time to lay the first slab. This is where things get a little tricky as most people don’t want their slabs sitting on grass and soil. To avoid this, make sure that your first slab is laid with enough space for cement to be laid (without encroaching onto your lawn).
You will also need to leave enough room for the cement mixer to make its way around when spreading the concrete across all of your slabs (so don’t drive it over this!).
Keep Laying the Slabs Until Your Chosen Area Is Covered
Make sure you check for any imperfections whilst doing this, as it will be difficult to fix once the cement is laid.
When placing them, make sure they are level so that they don’t look wonky. If a slab doesn’t sit flat, tap it with a hammer until it does.
Keep laying the slabs until your chosen area is covered. Make sure you check for any imperfections whilst doing this, as it will be difficult to fix once the cement is laid.
If you make a mistake, you can always start again with a new slab
Lay Out Pieces of PVA Tape Over Each Slab
For this step you will need to lay out pieces of PVA tape over each slab, allowing the tape to touch each slab but not overlap with another slab. The purpose of this is to prevent any grass seed from germinating on top of your paving slabs.
You can buy PVA tape from most DIY stores as it’s widely used for laying down garden edging and other tasks that require waterproofing fabric.
The tape should be kept in a cool dry place until you are ready to use it and keep it away from direct sunlight or heat which may cause the glue holding it together to become brittle and break apart prematurely.
Repeat This Process Until All Laying Has Been Completed
Repeat this process until all laying has been completed. Make sure you have enough tape to cover all the slabs, making sure that it is laid evenly over them and not overlapping with another slab.
Conclusion
Laying paving slabs is a great DIY project to do with the family and it’s also a good way to save money.
There are many reasons why you should become more involved in the DIY world; here are just a few:
- It’s cost-effective – you can make your home look amazing but spend less than if you had paid someone else;
- You can learn new skills – by doing things yourself, you might start learning new skills that could help you out in other areas of life;
- It can be fun – sometimes tedious jobs like laying paving slabs can actually be quite enjoyable (especially if you’re doing them with friends or family);
- It gives back time – spending time working on projects around the house means that there will be less time spent commuting or working overtime, giving more opportunity for spending quality time with those who matter most!
