How do I Lay a Slate Rock Patio?
When building a patio, you want to create a surface that will last the lifetime of your home. Few materials are as long-lasting as natural stone, and few stone types have the same advantageous building qualities as slate. Slate has a surface that's naturally flattened, meaning that with careful selection you can find a sufficient number of rocks to create a level patio surface, reducing tripping hazards. For installation purposes, you lay the rock in much the same way as setting tile or flagstone, with mortar used to hold the slate firmly in place. One person can complete the entire project in the span of a weekend, depending on patio size, with the mortar curing sufficiently enough to enjoy your new slate patio within a couple of weeks. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Graph paper
- Pencil
- Spade
- Carpenter's level
- Plate compactor
- Gravel
- Sand
- Wheelbarrow
- Mortar
- Water
- Hoe
- Trowel
- Border stones
- Slate rocks
- Rubber-headed mallet
- Brush
- Stone sealant
Instructions
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1
Draw a design detailing the dimensions for your patio in scale on a piece of graph paper. Include the building that the patio will lie next to in the drawing, for a better sense of the overall expected look of the patio. Include a 5-inch border surrounding the patio for the placement of border stones that allow you to create a clear and consistent patio edge.
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Dig the hole for the bed beneath the stones for your patio 8 inches deep using a spade. Follow the plan for the patio when placing the borders of the hole. Create a slope in the bottom of the hole with the assistance of a carpenter's level that drops 1 inch in depth for every 8 feet of patio leading away from the structure. The slope aids in providing drainage for the patio away from the building. Use a plate compactor to compress the soil at the bottom of the hole. (Rent the compactor from a home improvement store or equipment rental shop.)
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3
Pour 4 inches of gravel into the excavation 2 inches at a time, compacting the gravel after each 2-inch pour. Pour 2 inches of sand over the gravel, and compact the sand as well. This gravel-and-sand layer will provide a strong base for holding the patio in place without slippage over time.
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4
Mix mortar with water in a wheelbarrow, using a hoe to sift the materials according to the manufacturer's instructions of mixture ratio. Spread the mortar over the compressed sand in a 1-inch layer.
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Lay the border stones around the perimeter of the excavation, lined neatly against the edge of the excavation and level with the ground at the side. Place the slate rocks into the mortar covering the patio area, the flattest face of the stone facing upwards. Place the slate so that there's a 1/5 -inch expansion space between them to allow for stone movement during weather changes. Press the stone into the mortar bed so that you create a flat patio surface. Spread the rock as near the border stones as possible.
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Use the trowel to fill the joints between the rocks with mortar. Fill the joints to the top and then immediately wipe away any excess mortar that falls onto the faces of the rocks.
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Check that the surface is level using the carpenter's level. Make any necessary adjustments to the height of the stones by tapping them into pace with a rubber headed mallet. If you have to raise the height of a rock, then pull it from the mortar bed and add more mortar beneath it, pushing the rock back into place. Wait the manufacturer suggested length of time for the mortar to cure.
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Brush a layer of tile and grout sealant made for slate onto the rocks and mortar within the joints. Wait for the sealant to dry completely, again according to the manufacturer's instructions, before using the patio.
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Tips & Warnings
Use work gloves and safety goggles to protect your hands and eyes from chemical burns when dealing with the mortar.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Flowers and Slate image by Lil Bro from Fotolia.com
