Ms.

M Harper WORKSHOP P A T I O S – PART 3

PATIOS
8. DRAINAGE
1. Drainage important on any paved area outdoors.
2. Proper planning and planning will prevent puddles from forming whenever it rains.
3. A patio should be built on a well-drained site that will dry out quickly after rain.
4. The finished surface of a patio joining any building should be at least 150 mm (6 in) below the existing damp-
proof course (vapour barrier).
5. This is formed by inserting a strip of plastic sheeting or other resisting material into the brickwork of external
walls just above ground level and below your final floor level to prevent dampness from rising.
6. The patio must slope away from the building at a gradient of 1-inch or a drop of 20 mm in every 1 m (1 in/4 ft),
to prevent water from collecting at the base of the walls or in puddles on the patio itself.
7. The paved area can be sloped towards its outer edge, to drain away naturally into a lawn or a large flower
bed.
8. In high rainfall areas, however, your lawn could become swampy, in which case rainwater must be channelled
away, either to the road, storm water drains, or simply into well-drained soil.
9. It must not be channelled to any drain leading to a sewer, septic tank, or cesspool, but can be taken to a
rainwater soak away.
10. A patio that is completely enclosed will certainly need a drainage channel or underground piping to lead off
the water.

9. EDGING
11. Block or concrete paving blocks must be held in place by some sort of edging.
12. However, where it is laid alongside existing structures - such as boundary walls or the sides of your house -
edging may not be necessary as the structure will help contain the paving.
13. Where there are no structures, an edging can be formed with a precast concrete curb stone or by pouring
concrete around the perimeters of the paving.
14. A brick or block edging may be laid.
15. Bricks or blocks can be set end to end, against the paving, or length-ways at right angles to the paving,
depending on the area to be contained - They should be set in mortar on a concrete strip foundation.
16. A free-standing brick or concrete block patio will have to be held in place by such an edging on all four sides
in much the same way as a brick or concrete block drive.
17. Do not lay all the edgings first, however, as you could end up with an odd-shaped space that for you to cut a
number of bricks or blocks' make them fit. Instead, begin by laying your edging on one side only.
18. To lay the edging, use a builder's line mark out the area, and dig an even, shallow trench around the outside.
19. Lay a strip of concrete for a foundation and let it dry. Butter the bricks and lay them in the usual way. Finish by
forming a flaunching of mortar along the side.
20. Patios made from stone flags create paving slabs that do not need a separate edging, though one could for
visual effect if required. Bricks on edge make an interesting contrast.

Activity 3: Word Search

Ms. M Harper WORKSHOP P A T I O S – PART 3

Activity 3: Word Search

Activity 3: Word Search