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| Patios must have a slight slope(1in. for every 4 to 8 ft.) for proper drainage. If you don't provide enough slope, rainwater will settle into low spots, eventually softening and washing out the sand and subbase materials beneath. A flat or poorly sloped patio could even direct water into your basement. Too much slope and you'll feel you're on a listing ship. | Bear in mind you can build up low spots with an extra-thick layer of subbase.Ask yourself how you'll be using your patio. Our expert recommended a minimum of 25 sq. ft. of patio per house occupant. He also added that a patio at least 16 ft. long in one direction is often the most functional. Plan for at least a 6 x 6-ft. area out of any traffic path for a dining table and chairs. |
Do you need space for a grill? Lounge chairs? A wading pool? Planters? Hopscotch? Sketch these on your tracing paper as you doodle.In small areas, use simple pavers and patterns (like the running bond shown in Fig. B). In large areas, you can break up the expanse with a variety of patterns or dividing bands. Curves add interest and grace to the patio-but also loads of cutting and extra work. |
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We paid 50¢ each (a little over $2 per sq. ft.) for our 4 x 8-in. pavers. We purchased them from a landscape center, where they supplied us with brochures from the paver manufacturer and gave us lots of installation tips. When ordering pavers, estimate the square footage of your patio, then add 5 percent. |
If your have a lot of curves, borders or half pavers-like our patio-order 10 percent extra. This allows for damaged pavers and provides extra ones for future repairs. The Snap-Edge plastic edging (see Buyers Guide) cost $3 per ft.; the 12-in. spikes to secure it cost 40¢ each. We used "class 5" crushed limestone for building the subbase. |
Class 5, a grade of material commonly used for road beds, is widely available. It consists of 3/4-in. rock and smaller particles, which nest together firmly when compacted. When ordering (look under "Sand and Gravel" in the yellow pages), tell the quarry or trucking company you'll be using the material for a patio subbase. If they don't have class 5 limestone they should be able to |
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OUTLINE the patio perimeter using a garden hose for curved areas and long 2x4s for straight sections. |
REMOVE SOD in an area extending 8 in. beyond the boundaries of the patio. Spray paint indicates the excavation line. |
