How do you Make Paving Slabs Look Good?

How do you Make Paving Slabs look Good?

Paving slabs are a great option for creating a long-lasting patio or path and are a good alternative to decking. There are plenty of different materials, colours, and styles available, meaning you can create a path or patio that will complement your home and landscape. But how do you make paving slabs look show-home good?

1.Start with a Solid Base

Paving slabs - particularly if you are building a patio - need to be placed on a solid, level base. Ideally, a professional would do this for you, however, it is possible to achieve a great looking finish with a lot of hard work and patience. You'll need to compact the ground underneath your future patio as well as compacting a sub-base layer made up of special gravel and sharp sand. Ideally this would be followed by a layer of concrete, followed by your patio slabs. Paths will not necessarily need this type of base, although it is worthwhile levelling the ground and ensuring nothing will grow through your future path, disrupting and skewing the new slabs.

2. Invest in High-Quality Slabs

Paving slabs come in all shapes and sizes, colours, styles, and also quality levels. At Mill Timber Direct, we sell only a selection of high-quality garden paving slabs that we know will last. Whether you are opting for standard buff or grey paving slabs in a variety of sizes or some beautiful Indian sandstone slabs, we have you covered. Our new Indian sandstone slabs are also available in a variety of stunning colours, including camel, Sagar black, Raj green, and grey. You may even wish to mix and match the colours to create a pattern or add interest to an otherwise neutral design.

3. Jointing Compound Between Slabs

Once all your paving or new patio has been put in place, it’s important to spread jointing compound between the gaps. This ensures that no cracks or movement happens and that less dirt will get into the crevices. Our jointing compound will give a finish to your patio that is hard to find anywhere else.. Jointing compound is easy to spread and can be done by yourself at home as it is already mixed and is ready to go on your patio with no added work!  Jointing Compound will also keep weeds at bay (though a solid foundation should already prevent most weeds). Done well, adding jointing compound between your new paving slabs will ensure a cohesive finish and long life for your path or patio.

4. Keep your Patio or Paths Clean

The elements in the UK are often unpredictable and, as such, patios and paths can become grimy after the winter. A quick cleanse with a power-washing tool will quickly revive a paving slab and restore them to as-new glory. Unlike decking, which should be treated or painted periodically to stay beautiful, garden paving slabs only need to be power washed every so often. Keeping them clean also helps to keep them less slippery in the rain.

If you need help deciding on which paving slab to get for your new patio or path, why not contact our friendly team of experts? We're happy to help you select the right slabs and advise you on sizing and materials. At Mill Timber Direct, we also sell a variety of building materials and tools, so you'll have everything you need to finish your project.