PAGE 18
THE CENTRE COUNTY GAZETTE
MARCH 14-20, 2013
Follow these tips for patio prospects By SAMI HULINGS For The Gazette
Are you considering building a patio? Here are some helpful tips:
BUILDING A GARDEN PATIO Building a garden patio with brick or stone pavers is probably the best way to accomplish any patio project. Laying the correct patio can be a relaxing and idylic retreat for those lazy summer days, but that’s why it is important that you make the right choice. That means you have to make sure it is ideally positioned in your garden. You should not erect/build your patio in an area where it will be isolated, but consider to build it in an area with the best views. This means that the positioning is especially important, I would place my patio in a positioned where I get the sun and a degree of privacy! But this is personal preference and is upto you and your lifestyle.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL CONCRETE PATIO OR BRICK? To build a garden patio can be very satisfying and look really good. The work is fairly straightforward if you are relatively
decent with your hands. The first and foremost points to remember are good planning and preparation, without the two you will find the project harder than you expected and your results will be sub-standard. Remember to look at the positioning of the sun, not a massive point but none the less a factor worth considering. Check out your landscape, have you got any trees obstructing the light?
YOUR CHOICE The patio can be many shapes and designs, but if you’re not confident, then it is probably best to have a square patio, although a circular one is also possible, but you would have to start cutting bricks. Circular patios can be purchased from most do-it-yourself stores and at reasonable prices. Don’t forget that you will need at least two inches on the edges to place brick edging. Clear the area you have chosen by digging it out to a depth of about 8/9 inches. Make a frame up the same size as your project and place it around the edges. Don’t forget you will need to put a slight slope onto your patio to enable rainwater
to run freely off. Make sure you run the slope off in the opposite direction of the house and below any damp courses! After this you should now do a run with your bricks just to make sure everything is lined up and going to fit.
PRACTICAL GUIDE Pour limestone or any hardcore aggregate into the area to a depth of about 5/6 inches. When the area is covered with this you need to tamper it down ideally with a whacker plate. Alternatively, get a plank of wood about 8 inches wide by 3 inches thick, and as long as needed, and simply place it across the hardcore and hit it down with a lump hammer. Once this procedure is completed you now need to place a weed blanket over the area to protect your patio from weeds growing up through the surface. Now you can pour your sand and it must be a minimum of 2/3 inches deep. You now need a screed to level the sand , check for a good level up against your framework.
START LAYING BRICKS At this stage you can begin to lay your brick. Make sure you have a line to keep
you on the straight and narrow. Keep checking for level as you go along laying your bricks. Always start at a corner and work your way along, you will need a rubber mallet at this point to gently tapp the bricks into place whilst using a spirit level for trueness. Assuming you will be using standard 4x8 bricks at 2 inches thick, you can continue with the weave pattern this pattern looks good and is very effective because it interlocks the bricks very well and makes for a stronger job! Once your bricks are laid you need to put sand on top and sweep this into the cracks and crevices.
SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE VIEW If you are using paving slabs then the principles are basically the same. But remember to continuously check for the right level, using pavers will probably be quicker but visually just as effective. Any cutting you need to do can be done with either a grinder, hammer and chisel or a brick splitter, I recommend purchasing a simple brick/paving slab splitter. (Editor's note: Information for this story came from a variety of sources, including Your Building Center).
L C EE
‹ -PYL ,_[PUN\PZOLYZ ‹ 4VIPSL 9LJOHYNPUN ‹ 9LZ[H\YHU[ :`Z[LTZ ‹ /V\Y ,TLYNLUJ` :LY]PJLZ
ARPET
W
ORKS
139 E. College Avenue, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL - NEW CONSTRUCTION Hardwood, Ceramic, Vinyl, Laminate, Carpet, Luxury Vinyl Tile Sales and Installation Free Estimates Hours: M-W-F 9:30 to 6:00 T-Th 9:30 to 3:00 Sat. 10:00 to 2:00 Dave Lee, Owner Phone & Fax: 814.359.4299
‹ -PYL ;YHPUPUN ‹ *6 9LMPSSZ ‹ *`SPUKLY ;LZ[PUN ‹ =LOPJSL :`Z[LTZ
Quality materials and workmanship at discount prices!
DISCOUNT REMODELERS INC.
ASPHALT PAVING SPECIALIST 2E ESI SIDE DEN D ENTI TI IAL IA AL #O OMM MMERC RCIAL R CIA IAL 3E ER RV VI ICES IC Driveways, Parking Lots, Roads, Recreation Areas, Sidewalks, Repairs and Resurfacing
Site Preparation — Stormwater Management, Excavation, Stone Subbase Installation And Grading
Best Quality and Service for over 45 Years
FREE MATES ESTIM
814 44-3 -3 359 5959-3 -34 346 462 62 2
&5, 5,,9 ). ).3 .352 52 2% % %$ $ s () ())# # ,IC IC CE ENS SE E 0! 0!
814.355.0680 Larry Shaffer, Sr.
Asphalt Paving —
www.ebypaving.com Providing the
3076 Benner Pike, Bellefonte, PA
% % #OLL LLE LLEGE EGE !VE VE "ELL LLE LEFO FFON ONTE TE
B&B B &B
Owner
MOBILE POWER CLEANING M & RESTORATI T ON SYSTEM
““We We Can C Can Handle Handle The The Pressure� Pressure� C COMMERCIAL OMMERCIAL & RES RESIDENTIAL IDENTIAL
13&4463& 8"4)*/( 13&4463& 8"4)*/( ' 'MFFU $MFBOJOH r &YUFSJPS )PVTF 8BTIJOH MFFU $MFBOJOH r &YUFSJPS )PVTF 8BTIJOH % %FDL $MFBOJOH 4FBMJOH r 4OPX 1MPXJOH FDL $MFBOJOH 4FBMJOH r 4OPX 1MPXJOH & &YUFSJPS .BJOUFOBODF 4FSWJDFT YUFSJPS .BJOUFOBODF 4FS WJDFT
r r ' 'SFE #BSUPO 0XOFS r TU 4USFFU r "MUPPOB 1" SFE #BSUPO 0XOFS r TU 4USFFU r "MUPPOB 1"
Lawn Fertilization & Weed Control Residential & Commercial Pest Control “Quality Service – Reasonable Prices� stevegenter@yahoo.com (814)686-1970
www.clinefeltersflooring.com Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9a-5p; Sat. 9a-2p; Closed Sunday
SAVE 10% ON ALL ORDERS! Must Redeem by 4/30/13. Not Valid with Any Other Discounts.