A lot of work is done by stonemasons to produce a stone patio that is not only beautiful but durable as well. This article discusses some of the steps that a homeowner should follow in case he or she wants to construct a stone patio on his or her own.
Soil Compaction
You should make sure that you compact the underlying soil so that it is firm to the level recommended for a patio in your area. Improper soil compaction may predispose the stone patio to damage in case the soil cracks or settles long after the patio has cured. Contact the local building authorities in your area and find out the degree to which you should compact the soil.
Gravel Placement
You should also pour a thick layer of gravel upon the compacted soil in the place where you want the stone patio to be. About two inches of gravel may be sufficient. This gravel will ensure that there is sufficient drainage underneath the patio. Proper drainage prevents water from pooling in one location and freezing once temperatures drop during the colder months of the year.
Concrete Slab
The next step entails pouring a concrete slab to cover the area where the stone patio will be. This slab provides a firm base upon which the stone pieces will be anchored in any desired pattern. The concrete slab should be thick enough to resist the forces which will be exerted upon it by the users of the patio. A thickness of about four inches may suffice, for example. You can consider including fibreglass additives in the concrete mix so that the slab will be much stronger.
Rebar Cage
The concrete pad can easily warp and crack if it isn't supported by a rebar cage. This cage should be made from rebar as well as steel mesh. Tie the mesh onto the rebar so that the structure looks like a cage. The rebar used should be at least half an inch thick. Make sure that you don't place the rebar cage at the bottom of the concrete. Suspend the cage within the formwork so that the cage ends up in the middle of the concrete pad. This will protect the slab from cracking under load.
As you can see, a lot of planning and effort goes into the preparation of the substrate on which the stone patio will be constructed. Hire a stonemason to do all this work in case you can't complete the job properly by yourself.
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