Decide on the area you want to pave and note all the dimensions.

Use our planning grid or graph paper to accurately sketch out a plan of your garden and any buildings.

 Then draw the perimeter of your chosen area to be paved and use your chosen laying pattern to draw in your paving slabs.

Mark out the area you are paving with an additional 150mm around the perimeter and from any building, usestring or a marking spray can to mark this area out.

Dig out topsoil, grass, vegetation or lift old paving if required. When digging out topsoil, grass or vegetation go to a depth of approx 150-175mm below your desired paving level. Note* you need a slight fall from any building toallow adequate drainage.

Your paving level should always be 150mm lower than any adjacent damp course.

A sub base material (crushed stone) is then required for areas which the topsoil, grass or vegetation has been taken from; this should be added to a depth of approx 75-100mm. The sub base then needs to be compacted with a vibrating plate. Any undulations can be filled with sand.

Starting from a fixed point usually a building you should leave 150mm before you start your paving. The paving should be laid on a full mortar bed of approx 25-50mm depending on the thickness of the paving.

Your mortar should be 6 parts sand to 1 part cement and use a builders trowel (10” or 12”) to spread the mortar evenly, place paving stone on your mortar bed and tap gently with a rubber mallet then place a spirit level across the slab to check its level and to ensure there is a slight fall from any building.

Repeat the process leaving 10-15mm gap between each stone until all the paving is laid.

Any mortar spillages should be washed off ASAP.

Refrain from standing on the paving forthe first 36 hours.

Once the 36 hours have passed you can grout in between your paving by using a mortar mix of 4 parts sand to 1 part cement but with very little water, water is not always needed if the sand is slightly damp, it is essential to not over wet this mortar, once mixed together use your trowel to place the mortar mix into the gaps and pack down with a pointing bar, remove any excess mix.