Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Replacing a broken slab in a patio or path is a straightforward DIY job. What is also good news is that there is no need to mix up any mortar, as you can use a product called Slablayer to bed down a replacement slab, and this is the technique I’ve shown in the example below. For more details on general points about laying slabs and using Slablayer, see my guide ‘Laying a patio’. read more »

Patio slab pointing fails for a number of reasons – some simply to do with age, others relating to the method used for laying and pointing the slabs in the first place. Dry pointing (where a dry mortar mix has been used) has got a tendency to fair worse than a wet mortar mix, but if the slabs haven’t been laid properly in the first place, pointing doesn’t stand much of a chance anyway. read more »

Paving slabs or concrete slabs are a good solid option for constructing a path. The technique below shows using a product called Slablayer which acts as the bedding layer for the path. Slablayer is basically an alternative to laying the slabs on a wet mortar bedding layer, and is becoming a very popular option for the DIY enthusiast, because of its ease of use. read more »

A paver path is straightforward to lay, and doesn’t require any mortar as effectively the whole thing is laid ‘dry’. Paver types and sizes vary with the ones shown here being a typical colour and design, but there are plenty of other options out there. The main consideration is how much compacting the sub base or foundation to the path will require. If you’re making a paved area for vehicles, read more »

In terms of creating a simple path, it doesn’t come much easier than laying some stepping stones. They can be made from slabs as shown here or you may wish to use some purpose-made decorative varieties. read more »