How to Lay a Patio: Complete DIY Guide for UK Gardens (2025)

A well-laid patio transforms a garden. It creates a usable outdoor living space, adds value to your home, and — if done properly — will last for decades with minimal maintenance. The good news is that laying a patio is a project well within the capabilities of most DIYers.

This guide covers everything from planning and preparation to the two main installation methods: traditional mortar bedding and the increasingly popular raised tile system.

Planning Your Patio

Size and Position

Most patios are between 15m² and 30m². As a rule of thumb, a patio should be large enough to comfortably accommodate your outdoor furniture with room to move around it. Consider:

• Where the sun falls at different times of day
• Privacy from neighbours
• Access from the house
• Drainage — patios should slope slightly away from the house (a fall of approximately 1:60)

Choosing Your Paving Material

Material	Approximate Cost per m²	Durability	Maintenance
Concrete slabs	£15–£30	Good	Low
Natural stone (sandstone, slate)	£30–£80	Excellent	Medium
Porcelain	£40–£100	Excellent	Very low
Composite decking	£50–£120	Very good	Low

Method 1: Traditional Mortar Bedding

This is the classic method for laying a patio and is suitable for most situations. It involves laying slabs on a bed of mortar (a mix of sand and cement) over a compacted hardcore base.

What You'll Need

• Paving slabs of your choice
• Sharp sand
• Cement
• Hardcore (crushed stone or MOT Type 1)
• Plate compactor (hire from a tool hire shop)
• Spirit level
• String line and pegs
• Rubber mallet
• Pointing mortar

Step-by-Step

1. Mark out the area — use string lines and pegs to mark the perimeter of your patio
2. Excavate — dig down to a depth of approximately 200mm (150mm for the base, 50mm for the mortar bed)
3. Lay hardcore — spread 100–150mm of compacted hardcore across the excavated area
4. Compact the hardcore — use a plate compactor to compact the hardcore thoroughly
5. Mix and lay the mortar bed — mix 4 parts sharp sand to 1 part cement, lay to a depth of 40–50mm
6. Lay the slabs — press each slab firmly into the mortar bed, using a rubber mallet to tap level. Check with a spirit level as you go
7. Allow to set — leave for at least 24 hours before walking on the patio
8. Point the joints — fill the gaps between slabs with pointing mortar or kiln-dried sand

Method 2: Raised Tile System (Pedestal Paving)

Raised tile systems are a modern alternative to traditional mortar bedding that are growing rapidly in popularity — particularly for roof terraces, balconies, and situations where you need to lay a level surface over an uneven base.

Instead of a mortar bed, slabs are supported on adjustable pedestals (also known as tile raisers or deck raisers). This creates a raised platform with a void beneath, which allows water to drain freely and provides access to pipes and cables underneath.

Advantages of Raised Tile Systems

• No mortar required — dry-lay installation that's much faster and cleaner
• Fully adjustable — pedestals can be adjusted to create a perfectly level surface on uneven ground
• Reversible — slabs can be lifted and repositioned without damage
• Excellent drainage — water drains freely through the gaps between slabs
• Access to services — the void beneath the slabs provides easy access to pipes and cables

What You'll Need

• Porcelain or stone paving slabs (minimum 20mm thick)
• Easi Tile Raisers — adjustable from 70–120mm
• Spirit level
• Rubber mallet

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare the base — the base needs to be solid (concrete, paving, or compacted hardcore) but doesn't need to be perfectly level
2. Plan your layout — work out the position of each pedestal. Pedestals should be placed at each corner of every slab, with additional pedestals for slabs larger than 600 x 600mm
3. Set the first pedestal — place the first pedestal in one corner, adjust to the correct height, and use a spirit level to check
4. Work outwards — place subsequent pedestals, adjusting each one to maintain a level surface with the correct drainage fall
5. Lay the slabs — place each slab on its four corner pedestals. The pedestal heads grip the slab edges to keep them in place
6. Check and adjust — walk across the finished surface to check for any movement or unevenness

Which Method Should You Choose?

	Traditional Mortar	Raised Tile System
Skill level required	Medium	Low
Time to complete	2–3 days	1 day
Material cost	Lower	Higher
Reversibility	Permanent	Fully reversible
Drainage	Surface drainage only	Excellent sub-surface drainage
Best for	Ground-level patios	Roof terraces, balconies, uneven ground

For most ground-level garden patios, traditional mortar bedding is the most cost-effective choice. For roof terraces, balconies, or situations where you need to work quickly or may want to change the layout in future, a raised tile system is the better option.

Shop Patio Products

• Easi Tile Raisers — Pack of 30
• Easi Deck Raisers — Pack of 30

Have a question about your patio project? Email us at info@thediyer.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.

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