Laying techniques >

1. General
2. Laying paving on soil
3. Laying paving on sand
4. Laying paving on concrete(1) (2)

General information on paving techniques

Description

All exterior paved surfaces must feature a minimum slope of 2% (i.e. 0.8" per 3-1/3 feet (2 cm per meter)) to assist in the natural run-off of rainwater. This will help keep the stones clean and avoid water stagnation which could harm the stones if freezing occurs. There are three main types of paving techniques:

• "Japanese" stepping stones:
  As they are not adjoined to each other, the stones are simply secured in the ground.

• Footpaths:
  If you use thick paving stones, they should be laid on a bed of sand; if you use thin stones it is recommended to pour a thin layer of concrete between the sand and the stones.

• Patios or driveways:
  The paving stones are laid on a layer of concrete that is poured over a foundation of gravel or crushed stone.

In pictures

1. 

   The paved surface must feature a slope of at least 2% to enable run-off of rainwater.

2. 

   On flat ground, you should calculate and integrate this slope when laying the foundations.

3. 

   To lay "Japanese" stepping stones, the stones are laid directly on soil.

4. 

   For footpaths, and if the paving stones are sufficiently thick (min. 5 cm), simply lay the stones on a bed of sand and secure them.

5. 

   If the paving stones are thin and fragile, it is better to fix them with mortar on a thin concrete slab.

6. 

   For patios or driveways, the stones are fixed on a concrete slab poured over a layer of crushed stone or gravel.

Did you know?

Sedimentary rocks are the result of the accumulation and compacting of mineral debris (i.e. other stones), organic debris (animal remains and vegetation, fossils), or chemical precipitation.

They are exogenous rocks, i.e. rocks which are formed on the surface of the Earth. Sedimentary rocks are present on 75% of the surface of the Earth's continents, but when considering its crust as a whole (from the surface to a depth of 22 miles (35 km)), they only represent 5% of its total volume.

The main sedimentary rocks are:

• sandstone
• sand
• siltstone
• loess
• clay
• shale
• coal
• oil
• limestone
• chalk
• etc.

SOURCE: Wikipedia