Indian Sandstone Patios: A Spacious Sense of Comfort
Lake Stone Paving offers a number of bespoke garden services to clients throughout Bury, Burnley, Nelson and the surrounding areas in Lancashire. While each of these is impressive in its own right, one of our most popular options involves the installation of bespoke Indian Sandstone patios. A recent project in Bury will help to illustrate the talent and precision that are required to create true works of art while still addressing the needs of the customer in question.
Still, the chances are high that you have a handful of questions. How are patios constructed? What steps were involved during the creation of our Indian sandstone patio? Why are these surfaces some of the most durable and attractive options at your disposal? If you have been thinking about sprucing up your garden, the information found below will come in handy. Let’s take a closer look.
How are Patios Built?
While each patio is unique in and of itself, there are a handful of steps which the majority of projects share in common. Here is a breakdown of the normal process:
- Conceptualising the design plan of the garden by consulting with the customer.
- Excavating the site (including the possible removal of any existing patio material such as stones, framing or concrete).
- Levelling the associated area.
- Installing a subgrade while once again ensuring a level surface.
- Creating a setting bed of cement.
- Laying the stones themselves.
- Filling all associated joints with mortar.
We can therefore see that there are a number of sequential steps which need to be taken. If any of these is not given the proper amount of attention, the quality of the patio will suffer as a direct result.
Now that we have a basic overview of how garden patios are constructed from the ground up, it is a good idea to take an in-depth look at how our team carried out this recent project in order to achieve truly unforgettable results.
The Targeted Approach Embraced by Lake Stone Paving
Our team believes that building a strong working relationship with the client in question is one of the most important steps when tackling a garden patio project. This is why we spend a significant amount of time during the consultation process. Communications are key, a they enable us to handle even challenging tasks while keeping the desires of the customer in mind at all times. Once the necessary details are finalised, our team presents the proposal. So, what additional actions were required?
Initial Excavation
In the case of this Indian sandstone garden in Bury, an existing structure needed to be removed before any of the new work could actually begin. This involved excavating sandstone slabs and dropping the surface level by a full six inches; creating a smooth and level foundation..
Installing a Barrier Against Weeds
As weeds had been a problem in the past, we then put an anti-weed membrane in place. This is an important step, as plants and other organic materials can sometimes cause damage to the underlying structure and even lead to cracks in the visible surface.
Laying the Sub-Base
All patios require a firm and solid foundation. This is known as the “sub-base” and it is comprised of a material called hardcore (a aggregate of stones and concrete). This hardcore was between four and six inches in depth. As creating a smooth and even surface is important, the hardcore sub-base was subsequently leveled before moving on.
Placing the Concrete Setting Bed
All stone patios will require a firm setting bed in order to ensure that the materials remain in place at all times. Therefore, our professionals laid an additional six inches of dry lean concrete. This concrete also provides an impermeable membrane; helping to prevent water from penetrating the lower levels.
Putting the Sandstone Slabs in Place
This next step is arguably the most aesthetically critical, as the placement of the sandstone slabs will have a massive impact upon the final appearance of the patio. However, the client also wanted to add a unique visual personality to the finished product. We therefore used slabs of varying sizes and tones. This provided an additional sense of depth and the colours were used to break up what would have otherwise appeared to be a rather uniform surface. This is why laying a high-quality patio represents an art form as much as a science. Furthermore, such an approach ensures that no two patios are ever alike.
The Finishing Touches
Lastly, our team filled all of the joints between the slabs (a process known as “pointing”). This mortar serves two purposes. First, it provides a sense of uniformity to the slabs themselves. It also keeps them firmly in place while helping to guarantee that no water penetrates and causes future damage. In other words, pointing ensures that the patio enjoys a long lifespan with only a minimal amount of maintenance.
Working with the Team at Lake Stone Paving
We are quite pleased with the outcome of this recent project in Bury. Not only did this Indian sandstone patio completely change the atmosphere of the garden, but it also helped to accentuate the appearance of the house itself. The use of industry-leading techniques alongside quality materials will likewise provide the customer with years of enjoyment during any season.
Please keep in mind that Lake Stone Paving offers a host of additional services, so your needs are always covered. Would you like to learn more about how our patios can leave a truly lasting impression? If so, please feel free to contact us and to schedule a no-obligation consultation at your earliest possible convenience.
