Garden guide
How to Lay a Patio: The Beginner's UK Guide
The short version
A lasting patio is five layers: dig out, 10cm of compacted MOT type 1 sub-base, a 5cm sharp sand or full mortar bed, the slabs, then pointing. Rush the layers you can't see and the ones you can will rock and sink within two winters.
Plan and measure first
Mark the area with string and pegs, and plan a fall of about 1:60 (a 6cm drop over 3.6m) away from the house so rain runs off. Measure the square metres and add 10% for cuts and breakages — our patio slab calculator turns that into an exact slab count for every size in the catalogue.
Foundations: the part that matters most
Dig out 15cm (more on soft ground). Lay MOT type 1 in 5cm layers, compacting each with a hired wacker plate until it rings solid. This is the layer that carries everything — our sub-base guide covers depths and materials in detail.
Laying the slabs
Set string lines for your levels and fall. Lay slabs on a full mortar bed (4:1 sharp sand to cement) for the most durable job, tapping each down with a rubber mallet and checking level as you go. Start from a corner, use spacers for even joints, and don't walk on them for 24–48 hours.
Pointing and aftercare
Once the bed has cured, fill the joints — brush-in jointing compound is the beginner-friendly option, mortar the traditional one. Our pointing guide compares both. Then keep the pressure washer gentle for the first year while everything hardens.