Plan your paving projects

The secret to a successful courtyard or path lies in its foundations.
Before laying the pavers it is important to prepare a good base, with a slight slope to help move away any water.
This may mean you have to dig out a layer of the top soil.
Once the level is right, a base of compacted sand, quarry sand or dolomite 5cm to 10cm thick can be laid.
Make sure the slope is away from any buildings and the finished paving will lie below the level of the building's damp-proof course.
It is best to make a plan of the area or mark the spot in some way.
There are many types of paving material available, including simple gravel, concrete either in slabs or bricks, timber rings, slate and tiles.
For garden pathways, gravel, crushed shells, crushed almond shells or simply sawdust are quite suitable. Sawdust is extensively used on pathways at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
The colour of the material used will depend on the surroundings and the material of which the house is built.
If your house is built of clay bricks usually an identical colour can be obtained in paving bricks. Concrete slabs and paving bricks come in various colours and textures.
Whichever type you choose, they will be uniform and quite easy to lay.
Select a heavyweight variety if the paving will receive heavy traffic, like the driveway.
Stone and slate both make good paving material but, because of their weight, a good base is vital. Failure to provide a proper base will result in cracked stones.
The choice of pattern for your paving is a most important consideration. It will set the mood and also affect the cost.
Patterns available include bedding faces, running bond, herringbone, basketweave and stackbond.
On a bend, concrete slabs filled with different-sized paving stones can create an attractive, irregularly edged corner to your pathway.
Natural slate or stone can never be laid to a set pattern – hence the term “crazy paving”.
You can never make a mistake with this system, but it is like doing a giant jigsaw.
There is a concrete poured type of continuous paving which looks attractive and gives a cobbled effect.
If you are thinking of doing some paving yourself, make sure you get full laying instructions from the manufacturer and follow them explicitly.
For large or more complex types of paving, it is always best to have the work done by an expert.