Types Of Paving Slabs With Pros & Cons | DIY Installation Tips
Patio slabs are great ways to add an extraordinary look and style to your garden. Follow the installation tips and ideas discussed in this article to get started with your patio slab project. There are many types of patio slabs, so it’s important to find the one that will fit your needs through experts like Deo Landscaping Company. This company’s services include patio slab installation. The company has various types of patio slabs that you can choose according to your taste and also ask for help from the experts to add a professional look to your home.
What is Patio Slab?
Patio slabs are made of various materials, including concrete and pavers. They come in various shapes and sizes and are also used for various purposes, such as outdoor seating, borders for gardens or yards, or even as steps. They are an affordable way to add some extra dimension to your backyard space and customize them according to your needs.
Types of Paving Slabs with their Pros and Cons
Patio slabs are an important part of any patio. They provide a sturdy foundation and a level surface to place furniture and other outdoor items. There are various typestypes of patio slabs available, each with advantages and disadvantages.
1. Concrete Patio slab:
A concrete patio slab is a great option for anyone looking for a durable and affordable substrate for their outdoor living space. Concrete patio slabs provide stability, weather resistance, and years of enjoyment. However, there are some cons to consider before deciding to install one. Some potential drawbacks include being difficult to install and requiring professional help. Concrete slabs are available in limited colors and are traditional more appealing than other types of flooring.
Pros:
- Concrete is a flexible and long-lasting material that will last for decades with relatively minor damage. It’s resistant to breaking and can endure considerable weight without degradation. Contractors use concrete for bridges, buildings, and other heavy-loading tasks since it is an exceptionally durable material that will typically have a substantial return on investment.
- Concrete paving slabs are often preferable for commercial decks because they are less costly and more prone to repairs. If you have damaged, stained, or worn titles on your concrete deck, it is easier to remove them and replace them rather than have to re-pour the entire surface.
Cons:
- Concrete surfaces are vulnerable to stains and discoloration if you cannot clear them away. To keep your paving slabs from losing their appearance and developing ugly stains, take care of them thoroughly and have them resealed as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Concrete paving slabs usually take longer to install than poured concrete, making them difficult to take on a do-it-yourself project.
2. Sandstone paving slabs
Sandstone slabs have an inherent roughness that increases their slip-resistant properties, making them optimal for settings like pool areas and rain-soaked service areas.
Pros:
- It is not as hard as marble or granite, but it can last a decade with the proper maintenance.
- Affordable and cheaper in price.
- If you want your paving to sport that organic look of natural stone, sandstone is for you. It comes in various shades, from an inviting and neutral tome for implementing a modern appeal to a fresh color scheme to transform your garden into a tranquil oasis. Also, you can opt for beige and gray tones for a bucolic summer landscape.
Cons:
- Sandstone flooring can be quite susceptible to damage if not cared for properly, and in certain instances, liquid or mold can cause staining.
- They are 100% natural, so sometimes their surface can be over-rough occasionally.
3. Limestone paving slab
Limestone paving slabs are mainly used for patios, walkways and courtyards because they are made of natural quarried stone. Also, slabs made of such stones are not resilient.
Pros:
- Limestone’s fine-grained texture gives its luxurious appearance, so it’s commonly used for paving surfaces. This lends a smoother quality to the ground.
- When the limestone surfaces lightened up, the mineral produced deep, unusual, and attractive colors.
- If you’re an enthusiast of limestone’s fine end and texture, it may motivate you to be more affordable than other patio slabs.
Cons:
- Limestone is more porous than sandstone, and as a result, it dissolves more rapidly. Calcium comprises most of the chemical composition of limestone, which leaves it at a high risk of bleach when exposed to sunlight for too long.
4. Granite Paving Slabs
Granite is quite a unique stone from the others available. It features the only known igneous stone that humans can access and is long-lasting because of its inherent composition. Granite slabs have a range of colored and glossy surfaces, including white, black, and brown.
Pros:
- Granite’s qualities allow it to be resistant to water and even to scratch the surface.
- They are resistant to any kind of weather.
- Available in almost every color.
- Easy maintenance
Cons:
- Difficult to cut because of its hardness.
- Expensive than other patio slabs available.
5. Patio Slabs Porcelain
Firing clay manufactures porcelain tiles at extremely high temperatures, resulting in the same slab’s desired shape and size. After this title has fully dried out, it travels through a glazing process. The pattern can be any design you can think of.
Pros:
- Porcelain is non-porous; it does not absorb stains or deteriorate when exposed to liquid water.
- Easy to clean
- After cleaning, strong, well-established tile with a smooth finish will look completely new.
Cons:
- They are hard to cut and require an expert blade for cutting.
- Porcelain is more costly than other natural stones.
- Difficult to install.
6. Paving Slabs Cork
Paving slabs cork is made from the outer cover of the cork oak tree. The rough bark is ground up and compressed to give a shape of a sheet. Later these sheets are bounded with resins to make a cork paving slab.
Pros:
- The soft ground would help reduce the noise you would hear when walking on the surface.
- Easy to install.
- Very effective insulator
- Eco-friendly
Cons:
- Venerable to ultraviolet lights because of the wood used in it. So, ultraviolet rays can easily damage them.
- Easily damage by pets or animals.
- Dragging furniture or other appliances easily damaged them.
- Expensive
Patio slabs are the best option for adding a patio to your home because they are less expensive and easy to maintain.
How to Install Patio Slabs Like a Pro | DIY
Suppose you’re thinking about building patio slabs and are more into DIY projects than installing your patio yourself or hiring a professional on the weekend. The major challenge would lift the pavers, especially working with small or large patio pavers.
Things you will require;
- A Trowel
- Wooden Pegs
- A Spade
- Slurry Primer
- Building Tape
- Building Sand
- A Rubber Mallet
- Sub Base Aggregate
- Cement
How to Lay a Patio Slabs: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
1. Measuring the Area
First, measure and mark out the area with a building tape to figure out the area for your patio titles. Next, dig into the soil to determine the target area.
2. Clean and Digging the Ground for Pavers
If the grass targeted is too long, it might be worth cutting it into smaller segments with a spade and rolling it up. It would be time-saving when you attempt to fill in the gaps between the existing patio and the lawn.
The next step is to take 150mm depth; 10cm for the sub-base, 5cm are for the mortar and flooring slab. If you lay the slabs of mortar extremely thick, you must allow a little extra depth. If you are laying the patio next to your house, then the finishing should be about 150mm under the damp proof course delimit.
3. Sub Base
Put something under the paving slabs. Paving slabs shouldn’t be placed on a soft surface or grass. A sub base is essential to patio laying successfully in providing the base required for paving slabs.
Sub bases are required as the top layer for your patio. The sub-base that you use depends entirely on the depth of your patio and the building layer of sand. You cover up the mortar in your driveway or walkway with a variety of square titles.
To compact the sub-base ledge on your lawn, fill the bottom of your area with the sub-base material, then rake it to an even depth of 50mm beforehand. After compacting the soil, modern vibrating plate compactors will compact the base efficiently and the sub-base material.
4. Layer of Sand
Lay the layer of the builder’s sand as soon as your base is flat and level. Make sure the layer of sand you lay down is a minimum of 2 inches (50mm) deep.
5. Prepare Mortar
To start, add five parts of the builder’s sand to one part of cement. Then, add water as needed to make a dough-like consistency. Maintain the consistency just soft enough to work.
6. Before, Paving Slabs
Dampen down the slabs with the water bottle spray. Lay slabs that will dry out the mortar blend too soon.
7. Laying the Slabs
Place a dab of mortar in the center of your first slab with a trowel. Lay the slabs above the mortar and place the mallet on top of it. Continue laying your slabs in rows by leaving 10mm of space between them. For installing porcelain paving, it’s important to use slurry primer, which must cover the area you are working on.
8. Fix any Issue
Sweep the paving slaps to sweep out any irregularities. On this step, you can fix any problem. While checking the paving, set a note under each maintenance hole stand to check that they’re leveled properly.
9. Dry
Let the patio slabs dry up to 24 hours. Do not stroll on them during the time.
10. Fill the Gaps
After every coat, brush off excess concrete and sand to leave the surface of your patio clean. Mix equal parts cement and sand and use the material to fill in any gaps in the patio. Use a trowel to brush the excess material from the surface.
Professional Tips:
Four things to keep in mind; First, patio slabs need to possess certain measurements to be appropriate for your project. To begin, the slabs should be a suitable size to meet your needs. Second, be sure to get a slab that is weather resistant. Third, be sure to know the type of patio slab you want and then consult with a professional installer. Fourth, make sure to have your patio slab installation finalized correctly so that the slabs last for a long time.
FAQs
What is the cheapest type of paving slab?
Concrete and granite are the cheapest paving slabs, costing $6-$12 per square foot.
What should patio slabs be laid on?
Make a mortar which is the best-bedded sand for paving slabs.
Can I lay patio slabs on the soil?
Most companies do not advise laying patio slabs on the soil. The durability of the patio slabs depends on the soil and the thickness of the clay soil.
Can you lay patio slabs just on the sand?
Many companies not recommended to lay patio slabs on the sand bed as the slabs won’t stay still on the sand.
Conclusion:
Patio slabs are a great way to add a pop of color and flooring style to your backyard. They come equipped with durable components, are easy to install, and permit you to delight in the outdoors. There are many types of patio slabs discussed above, find experts from Deo Landscaping Company to help you select one that fit your needs. Deo LandscapingDeo Landscaping offers various services, like driveway paving, to create a beautiful pathway or parking lot.
Contact the company today to find out more about its services!
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