table of contents
- Grit as a subsurface
- Use sand
- Put gravel underneath
- Quartz sand for the joints
- Which variant is recommended?
- frequently asked Questions
If the terrace is to be redesigned, then the question arises as to the substrate for the terrace slabs. So grit, sand or fine gravel can be used here. The different variants are explained below.
In a nutshell
- Grit as a substrate is one of the variants that is chosen most frequently by default
- Gravel or crushed stone is always chosen as the lowest layer as frost protection before sand or gravel is distributed on it
- Gravel can also be used as the first frost protection layer directly above the ground, but should have a certain thickness
- Sand, gravel or even chippings in a smaller thickness can be used on the frost protection layer as an inlay layer for the stone slabs
- The bottom layer of gravel must be leveled with a vibrating plate, otherwise the stone slabs will later sink
Grit as a subsurface
If you choose a gravel bed as the base for your terrace slabs, you choose the standard. Because this is the most common way of laying the tiles straight and non-slip on a terrace. The prerequisite for this is the following procedure:
- Mark out the terrace area and dig out the earth
- about a total of 30 cm to 50 cm deep
- Excavation is calculated depending on the height of the terrace slab
- Pour in the first coarse-grained layer of grit
- about 10 to 20 inches tall
- Compact layer by layer with a vibrating plate
- Fill in finer grit about five centimeters over this
- peel off flat
- Place the terrace slabs in the gravel bed
- Leave joints of three to five millimeters
The stone slabs should be placed in the gravel bed in such a way that they are flush with the surrounding height. It is therefore important to measure the height of the slab before excavating so that it can be calculated exactly how far it has to be excavated. The stone slabs are evenly aligned with a rubber mallet and a wooden board as well as a spirit level.
Tip: If you choose stone slabs for outdoor use, make sure that the surface is not too smooth. Because when it is wet, the risk of slipping is particularly high in such a case.
Use sand
If sand is to be used to lay the stone slabs as a terrace or sidewalk, then an additional layer of gravel or chippings is required as a frost protection layer. The sand is applied to the vibrated and firm layer and the slabs are laid in it. Since sand attaches itself well, the plates are very firmly embedded in them if they are attached again with a rubber mallet.
Note: With any type of laying of terrace slabs, you must not do without a frost protection layer. This is a prerequisite for ensuring that the terrace slabs do not lift up later in frost and the surface then becomes uneven. There is no Concrete base available, then you always have to put a first layer of coarse crushed stone or gravel underneath before the actual bed of gravel, sand or gravel is filled.
Put gravel underneath
Gravel can also be used to create an area made of stone slabs, this is a different variant compared to the use of chippings. Because gravel is also available in different grain sizes. The procedure is as follows:
- Use coarse-grained gravel instead of chippings as a layer of frost protection
- also fill in and shake tight
- add another layer of finer gravel
- then place the plate
Note: It is always important that you compact the bottom layer of crushed stone well with a plate compactor. Otherwise the terrace slabs will later sink, which should be avoided. Then various slabs sink to the side and the terrace becomes uneven. You can borrow a vibrating plate on a daily basis from well-stocked specialist shops or a hardware store.
Quartz sand for the joints
When the terrace slabs are all in place at the end, fine quartz sand is scattered on the surface and wiped well into the joints with a broom until they are filled to the top. This work can be done over and over again over several days, as the quartz sand will still settle a little after a while and the process should therefore be repeated.
Tip: This use of quartz sand is not absolutely necessary. Have you laid your stone slabs on chippings or gravel, for example, and left extra large joints here? so that the subsurface shines through, then of course refrain from using sand as a Joint filler.
Which variant is recommended?
If concrete is not to be used, all three methods are equally suitable. The question here is rather how the area should look later. There are natural stones or stone slabs that are placed close together and between which only small joints can be seen. On the other hand, there are also areas where the gravel should shine through between the stone slabs. The different procedures are to be used as follows:
- Always use gravel and grit as a frost protection mat
- the cheaper option can be chosen here
- Gravel is mostly round
- Chippings are usually more angular
- choose what pleases better between the joints
- pay attention to the color of the stone slabs
- Different colors available for gravel and chippings
- Use sand only when the joints are almost closed
frequently asked Questions
Laying terrace slabs yourself is quite easy. Even as a beginner, you do not need a professional for this. Because the panels can be easily laid on the sand, gravel or gravel substrate. So you can assume that as a beginner you will be able to complete one square meter in about 90 minutes. So you can plan two to three days for a larger area yourself and save yourself the costs for the specialist.
If you have miscalculated and have removed too much soil from the terrace bed, you can also apply another sub-layer of gravel. This must be compacted again with a vibrating plate. But you can also fill in the soil that has been removed too much. Remember, however, that you must also fix this layer of earth with the vibrating plate, otherwise the subsoil will become too unstable due to the loosened earth.
There is a simple trick to make the joints straight and evenly wide. With concrete slabs, you can use spacers that are also used when laying tiles. Otherwise, set up small pegs at regularly measured intervals on the edge of the terrace, to which you tension a string. This is where you then lay the panels and get the joint width you want.
If you don't know how to calculate the amount of material yourself, the specialist will help you with the order. All you have to do is provide the key data, including the size of the terrace, the desired height of the ballast layer and the desired The height of the second layer of gravel, chippings or sand as well as the thickness of the terrace slabs belong and receive exactly the right amount Building materials.
