The team got to work lifting the previous patio, which revealed that all the paving had been laid on nothing but a bed of sand, explaining the loose slabs...

After the previous paving and sand had been removed, the team marked out their levels using string lines. This ensures the hardcore base is compacted to the correct height and gradient, giving a solid base and good drainage.

After the levels had been marked, and the positioning of the new retaining wall had been measured, it was time to dig the footings. A trench is dug until solid ground is hit, usually around 300mm down, and then filled with concrete - this provides solid foundations on which to lay blocks.

Once the concrete had cured, it was time to construct the wall. With any retaining wall, drainage is important. If water is unable to escape from behind the wall, the extra weight can cause the wall to weaken and become unsafe. This is why correct drainage pipes and weep-holes are a must. Once the pipework is installed, it's covered with clean stone, a fabric membrane, then a hardcore subbase, meaning the ground above is stable, but water is still able to pass through to the pipework below.

Once the wall & steps were finished, it was time to lay the tiles. On this project we laid 600x600mm outdoor porcelain tiles. These are always laid on a full bed of sand and cement, with an SBR slurry applied to the back of each tile, improving the adhesion of the tiles to the mortar mix. 

All tiles are laid with a 1mm gradient - this ensures any water is directed to the drain and doesn't sit on the patio.

Once the tiles were in, it was time to render. Rendering is done in two stages - 

1) Scratch Coat - this is when a layer of sand and cement mix is applied to the surface, then 'scratched'. This gives a mechanical bond and allows for a smooth, secure finish when the top coat is applied.

2) Finishing Coat - Once the scratch coat has hardened, usually over night, the finishing coat is applied. This requires care and attention to detail, ensuring a smooth finish with straight edges.

Finally, the artificial turf is laid on a bed of compacted hardcore subbase and sand. The sand is screeded after the initial compacting to ensure a perfectly level base on which to lay the turf.