A raised slab patio is an excellent choice for protecting your lawn and garden from wear, causing uneven wear over time. And when you combine a raised slab patio with a quality paving stone it’s an unbeatable combination.
It is time to build a new patio. To go with your raised slab patio, we will use cedar planks. Cedar planks are made from red cedar which is a very resistant plant that grows in the states of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Cedar is not very expensive but it gives the patio a great look without costing too much money. With this project we will also give you some tips on how to cover concrete patios with wooden patio slabs.
Installing a raised slab patio can be built as either a DIY project or you can hire a professional. Either way, this guide will make the process simple with helpful tips and techniques to ensure your patio is done right.
1. Lay Out the Area
- Lay out the area
- Mark out the area with stakes and string
- Use a tape measure to make sure it is a square
- Use a laser level to make sure it is level
- Use a string line to make sure it is straight
2. Excavate the Area
- Excavate the Area
Excavating is the process of removing soil and rock to create a foundation. The goal is to remove any existing topsoil, sod, and concrete that are present in your backyard so that you can prepare the area for your new slab patio. Before beginning this step, call 811 so that underground utilities can be located and marked out of harm’s way.
- Remove Topsoil: With a shovel or tiller machine (optional), cut through any remaining topsoil until you reach hardpack dirt below it. The depth at which this hardpack lies will vary depending on whether you live in an arid climate or an area with wetter soils; however, if after digging several feet there remains no evidence of any other layers beneath it—and especially if water pools at its base—you may have reached bedrock or clay subsoil instead of just hardpack dirt. If so (that is: if no other layers were found beneath), then quit digging immediately! In order stop yourself from damaging pipes or other underground infrastructure while excavating too deep into these materials that take longer than usual to dry out after rain events due to their impermeability.
3. Install the Edging
Once the soil is in place, use a trowel to smooth and level it out. Then fill any holes with more soil and tamp it down with a tamper to ensure that it’s tightly packed. To finish, sweep away any excess dirt with a broom or leaf blower.
You want the edging to be perfectly level so that the patio will sit flush against it once you install the pavers later on. Leveling the edging is easy if you have access to a carpenter’s 4-foot level (you can also use two 2-foot levels). But if all you have is one 2-foot level, check out this tutorial for how to correctly measure for an accurate slope without using an expensive tool.
4. Level and Compact the Soil
Once the gravel is in place, use a tamper to compact it. A hand tamper works well for small areas, but if you have the space and budget for it, consider investing in a power tamper. This tool will make quick work of leveling your entire patio area.
You may need to remove some soil from around the edges of your new patio so that it has a smooth surface. If this is the case then use a rake or trowel to shape it before pouring cement overtop of it as described above (see Building Steps 1-3). Remember: It’s important not just for appearances’ sake but also because doing so prevents water from collecting around where your concrete slab will go.
When all loose material has been removed (or raked into piles), brush off any remaining dirt on top using either a broom or leaf blower—you don’t want anything left behind when you start laying down concrete.
5. Layout Pavers
Once you’ve got your pattern down, it’s time to set it by marking where each paver will go. This can be done by placing stakes at each corner of the patio, then tying strings between them. Now that you have a string grid laid out over your slab, use a level and a straightedge or chalk line to draw lines through the middle of all four stakes in order to make sure that every row is even with respect to one another. If any of these lines are off, remove some pavers and re-set them on the correct side; this process is known as “stretching and leveling.
Once everything looks good (and if there is any question about whether or not something looks good enough for you), set those pavers into place with mortar or adhesive so that they stick well enough during later steps but still allow for adjustments if needed before being completely dry (this may take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 days).
6. Install Pavers
- Use a laser level to make sure all of the pavers are level with each other. You want them to be as flat and even as possible so they don’t look wavy or bumpy when they’re completed, which can be very annoying when you walk on them!
- Use a hammer to tap the pavers into place (with nails if necessary). Tampers are also available for this step, but I found that using a hammer worked just as well for me personally.
- Spread adhesive evenly across each paver using a trowel and then tamp it down with a masonry tamper until it’s nice and flat.
This will help you build a raised slab patio for your home
If you want to build a raised slab patio for your home, it is important that you have the right equipment and materials.
You will need to have the right tools:
- A shovel or spade. This will help you dig out any ground that needs to be removed.
- A sledgehammer or mallet to break up any clay that is too hard to dig out by hand or with the shovel or spade.
You’ll need the right materials: Concrete blocks (also known as cinder blocks) in various colors and sizes which should be available at your local home improvement store such as Lowe’s, Home Depot or Menards (the brand does not matter since we are going to cover them up). They typically come in 8″, 10″ & 12″ sizes but may vary depending upon where you live so check with your local store before checking out! If all else fails try using two smaller pieces instead of one big one if possible; this will make things easier when it comes time for removal later on down the road.
Final words
This is a fairly simple project for any homeowner with a bit of experience in laying concrete slabs. The key to the whole process is to make sure that the patio site is completely level before you install the pavers, as this will ensure that you don’t have any problems with cracking or settling later on. If you do not have experience in this area, then it may be wise for you to consult someone who does so that your construction doesn’t go awry.
