Indian Stone Paving Slabs look fantastic on any drive, patio or path – the multi-coloured look and the differently sized slabs offer a professional and more luxury finish than standard slabs. At first glance, it may seem like they would be harder to install than normal paving slabs – but by using a few of these tips and tricks, your project should look like it was installed by a pro.
Laying Indian Stone Paving in the pattern you want
First things first; Indian Stone Paving’s main difference to regular paving is the lack of any uniform size of slab. Because of this, some DIYers get put off laying this type of paving straight away. However, taking the advice from this article should seriously improve your chances of laying the perfect Indian Stone Paving project.
Before you start digging, lay out your slabs directly on the ground where you’d like them to end up being. Begin from your home and work your way outwards if you’re laying a patio; that way you can note the size of slab you’ll need to cut to fill in the edges next to the house. Lay out your slabs right to the edge of where you’d like the paving to end, and go beyond this so that you can draw out the final edge of the patio onto your stones, and know exactly where to cut them. If you’re going for a straight edge, use a chalk line to help guide you to a perfectly measured straight edge guide you can follow while you cut your stones and prepare your groundwork. If you’re hoping for a curved edge, read on further below!
Once you’ve laid out your stones, take a photograph of them and number them with chalk in the order you want them to be laid. Then, take your photograph and draw out the numbered paving slates, including the number of each, on a piece of paper. You can then remove the slabs, and later refer to your drawn guide to see exactly where each slab should go.
Making the perfect curved edge on an Indian Stone Patio
Curved edges, whether featuring in a patio, path or driveway, can look incredible when they’re done well. A common concern is creating the perfect curved edge – so how can you do it yourself?
Well before you go out and attempt to draw a curve by eye, you can try this simple method. Fill your garden hose with water, and use this to create the curve you’re looking for. Hoses are great tools to use because they are heavy enough to keep the shape you create while you draw around it, plus you can easily view the hose and change the position to your liking in any way you want before you mark your curved cutting guide line in chalk.
If you’re looking to make a perfect circle curve (rather than a wave or to fit in a paving stone circle) you can tie building line to a wooden stake, and use this as a guide to create the perfect circle. Simply place the stake in the centre of the circle, and ensure the chalk is tied to the edge of where you’d like the circle to end (using the same method as a metal compass) and draw a line using the taught line and chalk.
Laying Indian Stone Paving at an angle to stop puddles and aid drainage
When you’re laying your paving, you’ll want to make sure it drains well and doesn’t draw water towards your home. The best way to do this is to build your project with a slight slant so that rain runs off and doesn’t hang around to cause damage. Usually adding just a couple of inches to the edge you want the water to run from will help.
You should add about ½ inch drop every 4 feet, and this should be done when you’re preparing the ground underneath (more on preparing your ground for paving here). The simple way to do this is to add 2 inches of your hardcore, then add the top amount of hardcore in after at the highest point, then work your way down. You can measure your progress with a 4ft level, by taking a half inch piece of wood on a flat surface, laying the level onto it at one end (so it’s sitting at the correct angle), then marking the position of the bubble. You can then use this marking as a guide when you lay your slope at each stage, from the hardcore to the sand and then your slabs, to ensure a perfect slope.
Be patient when laying your foundations; a good slope should help you achieve the flat, professional finish you’re looking for. Rushing foundations and not compacting well enough can cause slabs to move and misalign, which is hard to fix.
Edging your Indian Stone Paving with bricks for a finer finish
Indian Stone Paving looks great with a brick edge, and it’s very simple to install. Simply dig around the edge of your paving to a depth that allows your brick to match the level of your paving stones while leaving a little extra depth for the addition of levelling sand underneath.
It can be tempting to lay the bricks length ways to decrease the number of bricks needed for your project; but please be aware that some larger curves will create such a harsh angle that laying the bricks this way may look uneven and will require some serious mortaring skill. If you’re unsure what will look best, you can always order the bricks needed to lay out length ways and lay them out on the area first, before permanently installing them. If you think the edge is too harsh, we’d recommend laying the bricks along width ways for a sleeker finish.
Indian Paving Slabs and project equipment can be pretty pricey, so it’s good to save money on materials where you can. We’d recommend checking out eDecks where you can find just about everything you need for your project, often at a discounted rate. Not only that, but you can contact advisors through email or phone to get further help with your project at any time – and we have a fantastic range of Indian Stone Paving too!
Here are some great extras you can take advantage of at eDecks:
Super fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*
48 Hour delivery on many products
Instant FREE credit for Schools, Colleges & More
Handy FREE installation guides (and even instructional videos!)
Incredible prices on all of our paving products
*Free delivery applies to most of the UK, but some areas may incur a charge, unfortunately – please check the eDecks website for more details.
To view our full paving range and get more free advice on your paving project, you can find out more here on our website.