How to Build a Slate Patio in Michigan
Slate is an attractive and elegant natural stone option that can make a beautiful patio in Michigan. The best way to install a slate patio is by using the dry installation method, in which you use a base of compacted gravel and sand rather than mortar, which has a tendency to crack in cold weather conditions. By installing the slate patio yourself, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of hiring someone to do the job for you. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wood stakes
- Rope
- Shovel
- Plate compactor
- Crushed gravel
- Rake
- Flexible edge with stakes
- Hammer
- Sand
- Two-by-four
- Slate
- Rubber mallet
- Polymetric sand
- Broom
Instructions
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1
Mark off your building area by pounding wood stakes into the ground at each of the four corners of your patio. Tie a rope around the outside of the four stakes.
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2
Excavate a hole within the border you marked off that's about 8 inches deep into the ground.
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3
Level out the ground. Run a plate compactor, which you can rent from a home improvement store, over the ground.
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4
Add a 2-inch layer of crushed gravel on top of the area you just compacted, and spread the gravel around evenly with a rake. Compact the gravel thoroughly. Add a second and third 2-inch layer of gravel, and compact the gravel after adding each layer. Having a solid gravel base is especially important in Michigan, because it allows for proper drainage.
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5
Install the flexible edge material. Line the flexible edge around the inside border of the excavation area, and secure the edging by driving stakes through the holes of the edging and into the ground.
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Add a 1-inch layer of sand on top of the gravel base. Smooth out the sand into a uniform layer by dragging a two-by-four across the surface.
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7
Set your slate stones one-by-one. Start in a corner, and tap each stone into place with the rubber mallet. Leave about 1/2-inch of space between each of the slate stones.
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8
Fill the cracks between the slate pavers with polymetric sand. This type of sand hardens into a concrete-like substance once it sets. Spread the sand around thoroughly, and make sure all of the sand is off the surface of the stones. Then, spray a fine mist of water onto the sand. Allow the slate patio to set for 24 hours before walking on it.
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References
- Photo Credit slate image by BONNIE C. MARQUETTE from Fotolia.com
