Laying Your Paving 

1. Draw a plan of your patio to scale. Have the layout and colours clear before you start. Include the gap between each slab - approx 10mm.

2. The finished patio level should ideally be two brick courses below the damp course. To allow for drainage, the level should slope slightly away from the house if this is where it is situated.

3. If your ground is firm and dry, you will only need to dig deep enough for the thickness of your paving slabs plus 4-5 cm. However, most gardens will benefit from an additional layer of hardcore or shingle for drainage and strength. No more than 10cm of this should be needed for a patio.

4. Fill the area with your hardcore layer and then a layer of sharp sand, making sure that both are compacted as firmly as possible. You can walk on a plank of wood to level the sand before you tread the area, distributing it evenly using the rake.

5. Mix up some mortar with a moderate consistency(not too dry or too wet) using 1 part cement to 5 parts sand.

6. Working against a straight edge, prepare a mortar bed for first slab, place slab in position, prepare the next bed & so on.

7. Use the spirit level and a mallet to level each slab - take the level over a number of slabs after you have laid a few slabs .

8. Space the slabs evenly.

9. Once the whole patio is down, leave it for at least 24 hours before you walk on it.