Paving stones are a durable and natural covering for garden paths, seating areas, the garden pavilion and the terrace. Installed professionally, the maintenance effort is reduced to a minimum. This guide explains step by step how to pave your garden yourself.

The home gardener can easily pave a garden path alone

List of materials and preparatory work

Before the practice comes the theory in the form of a true-to-scale plan sketch. Find out in detail about the different qualities of the materials, because there are also paving stones as eco-stones or seepage stones with improved water permeability. The following materials and tools are required:

  • cobblestones
  • curbs
  • sand, gravel, crushed stone
  • concrete
  • joint sand
  • wheelbarrow
  • Spade, broom, rake, spirit level, rubber mallet
  • Vibration plate (499.00€) (rented)
  • Clinker cutter (rented)
  • Pegs, guideline,(7.13€) tape measure

Mark out the area with the stakes and the plumb line. Use the spade to dig up the soil 30 to 35 cm deep. In regions with severe winter frost, we recommend an excavation depth of 60 to 90 cm.

Set kerbstones and create bedding - that's how it works

Curb stones are indispensable for reliable stability of the entire paved area. A concrete foundation 10 to 20 cm thick prevents the stones from slipping. Go stone by stone and tap everything with the rubber mallet after checking the course with the spirit level. As a rule of thumb, curbs should be in concrete for a third of their height.

Only when the concrete of the strip foundation has dried do you lay the bed for the paving stones. So that rainwater can drain off well, please allow for a gradient of at least 2 percent. A 20 to 30 cm thick layer of sand, gravel or crushed stone acts as a settlement-free subsoil and is secured with the vibrating plate. Spread a 4 to 5 cm thick layer of sand on top and smooth it out.

Laying paving stones - this is how you do it right

Lay the paving stones in the planned pattern with a joint width of 3 to 5 millimeters. Tap each stone into the bed with the rubber mallet. It is important to note that you regularly use the spirit level to check whether you are inserting the stones straight and flush. Use the clinker cutter to cut each paving stone to the right shape.

Pay special attention to the quality of the joint sand, don't worry about weeds and ants later. Polymer joint sand, e.g. B. Dansand, is ecologically harmless. Thanks to its composition, the material suppresses annoying weeds and keeps ants away. Sweep the joint sand in repeatedly with the broom until the paving stones form a smooth surface.

tips

Haven't you used up all the cobblestones? Then simply use the surplus to create a fireplace in the garden. To do this, dig a 15 cm deep pit, cover the ground with gravel and layer the paving stones in an offset pattern all around. A little mortar between the joints creates the necessary stability.

Category:

Garden design