How to lay a terrace: Use our 10-step guide for DIY. How to prepare the ground to install a terrace on the grass, use cement, or not...

Author: Anna Cottrell2021-04-16T11:02:07Z

Learn how to lay your own terrace to enjoy the exquisite features that perfectly suit the style of your yard. Using our simple step-by-step method, you don't need to ask professionals to install a terrace on the grass or other areas of the backyard space. Moreover, you will soon have the perfect place for fine wine, dining and relaxation.

Laying a terrace is a simple task for those who are keen on DIY, and a task that you can complete in a weekend. The only problem is that you may need a friend to help you lift the paver into place, whether you are using a large terrace paver or a small terrace paver. 

We provide all the knowledge needed to install a terrace in our guide, including how to prepare the ground and lay the foundation. We will even let you know the secrets of laying paver without cement...

Safety note: As mentioned earlier, some paving slabs are very heavy and you may need help lifting them. If you wear knee pads, you will also find work easier.

To start installing your patio paver, you need to measure and tape the area to show the location of the patio and dig out the soil there.

If the area is currently lawn or long grass, it is worth using a shovel to cut the turf into strips and then roll it up. This way, you can save it to fill any gaps between the new terrace and the lawn when you are finished. 

Dig an area 150 mm deep-10 cm for your subbase and 5 cm for your mortar and paving slabs. If your slab is very thick, please allow a little extra depth. If you are laying directly next to the house, the finished terrace should be at least 150 mm below the moisture barrier. 

You do need to put something under the paving slab. Paving slabs should not be laid directly on soft ground or grass. The key to successful terrace laying is to provide the base layer needed to support the paving slabs. 

You need a foundation, which is the main load-bearing layer of the terrace. The best foundation for the terrace is a hard core laid to the correct depth and a layer of sand. Then the paver should be laid on a mortar made of sand and cement.

To do this, fill the bottom of the terrace area with a bottom plate and rake to an even depth of 50 mm, then compact-you can do this by walking over (or you can rent a vibrating plate compactor), make sure You covered the entire area twice.

Cover with a thin layer of construction sand. At this point, it is very important that your base is completely flat and level, so check it now. Note: When you lay the paver, you need to spread a layer of sand about 2 inches (50 mm) deep above the hard core layer.

Next, make the mortar by mixing five parts building sand with one part cement and adding enough water to form a dough-like consistency. It should not be runny, but soft enough for use.

Spray water in a spray bottle or lightly spray with a watering can to wet the paving slab. If you lay dry boards, they will dry out the mortar mixture too quickly. 

Using a trowel, place a piece of mortar in the center of the first board. Always start from a corner and work outward. Place the plate on the mortar and tap lightly with a mallet. Continue to lay the slabs in rows, leaving a gap of 10 mm between them. For installing porcelain paving, the use of mud primer is very important, and it should be applied to the entire base of the paver.

As you progress, check whether the paving slab is level by placing a level on the paving slab. It is much easier to correct any unevenness now.

Let it dry for at least 24 hours and do not walk around on the terrace.

After drying, fill the voids with more mortar to complete your terrace. Mix more sand and cement in a ratio of 5:1, but don't get wet or it will stain your board. Fill the gap with the mixture with a trowel. Brush off any excess mixture from the patio surface.

If you choose a well-drained, sturdy, and level area in your yard, you can use a concrete-free terrace as an alternative. Scroll down to get the low point. You can lay the terrace by putting the paver on the sand instead of on a mortar mixture made of sand and cement. For terraces laid in this way, choose an area with good drainage. 

Use a spade to dig out about 6 inches (150 mm) of the selected area and level it.

Lay the subgrade/hard core to a compaction depth of 2 inches (50 mm) and repeat to create a 4 inch (100 mm) subbase. On the top, spread a layer of 2 inches (50 mm) of sharp sand. 

Then lay the deck boards and leave a small gap between them. Sweep the sand into the gap with a broom so that they are filled. Spray the terrace with water to let the sand settle. 

As the spaces emerge, fill them with more sand as before, and do so again in a week or so.

If you are laying a terrace next to the house, you will need to create a so-called drop-this means that your terrace needs to be slightly inclined to allow water to drain from your house instead of being collected by the walls. 

This is done by inserting dowels into the grid where the base will be placed, making sure that the dowels are 12 to 16 mm deep per meter from the house. Pre-mark the nails with a marker to ensure that your measurement results are correct. 

Then, during the filling stage of the base layer, make sure that the aggregate just covers the top of the nail. 

If not all boards have the same size and/or shape, or you want an unusual pattern, always dry shop first-place them on the lawn exactly the way you want them. Never lay unusual paving patterns directly on your plinth, because you will almost certainly make mistakes.

Everything is in the work on the weekend👏

Anna is the consumer editor of the Future home brand. She shifted from academic research in the fields of English literature and photography to the field of interior design. She is the author of writing in London in the 1930s and is passionate about modern home decoration and gardening.

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