The warm season is coming, the sun is shining pleasantly and the blue sky provides hope and a good mood, you feel relaxed just being outside. The local recreation area right outside the door consists of gardens and terraces, which can be designed to your taste as a private piece of outdoor space. A special design element is the floor covering, which creates a worthy setting. The stone slabs for terraces, which are available in a variety of looks, designs and types of natural stone, are very popular.
There are several variants that can be used as patio slabs - natural stone, such as granite, limestone and sandstone, but also artificial stone and variousWood optics. The amount of terrace tiles used can be quickly converted online using the practical terrace calculator. You should know exactly the terrace area and the tile dimensions in advance. This way you can easily calculate how many tiles are needed per square meter and order or buy them straight away.
Before you lay the patio tiles, you should get a clear overview of the surface and check its load-bearing capacity. A slight slope is required to ensure water drainage. Otherwise, the structure will become moist when it rains and cause damage over time. A gradient of around 2 percent is recommended.
Laying can be carried out successfully either on chippings with mortar or using special fastening systems or plate supports. It is always started on the wall of the house or in a place where a lot of value is attached for visual reasons - entrance area, steps, patio door, sidewalk, etc.
The thickness of the board is taken into account for the joints in between, although it is recommended that these are 3 to 5 centimeters and are easily achieved using joint crosses available in hardware stores. The joints can be filled with joint sand as desired. Alternatively, none is used, but the laid area is framed with paving or stones to prevent the terrace slabs from slipping.
The terrace slabs could be laid on a solid surface with mortar. The binding agent is applied straight and evenly in the corners and in the middle of the panel. Each panel is then positioned correctly and aligned with a rubber mallet and spirit level so that a gradient is created for the rainwater to drain away.
The stone slabs can be shaped and cut to a different shape as desired or as needed, especially at the edges, corners and curves of sidewalks. The plate is cut with an angle grinder, first on the back and then on the front.
If the terrace slabs are laid with slab bearings, it is possible to subsequently level them using special discs and then easily replace them later as required. The plate bearings can be cut to the useful length with a hacksaw.
In many cases, a color difference can be noticed between the different patio tile packages. It is advisable to take an overview and sort everything immediately after purchasing it. This means that when laying, the differently colored panels can be visually distributed evenly.
The stone slabs should be thoroughly cleaned every year to keep the terrace and garden looking good. Only use patio cleaners specifically designed for this purpose. This way you get everythingStone surfaces clean again. Normal dirt can also be repelled with special cleaners for facades. Regardless of the product, you should let it work first and then scrub firmly. Avoid cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner due to possible damage to the stone structure.
Granite is a popular material and is widely known for its robustness and resistance to weather. It belongs to the group of hard stones and is durable and resistant to heat, cold or moisture. This is why it is very popular for all outdoor surface designs.
Grant is very easy to care for as a floor covering, but like any natural stone, it can absorb oils and fats. Why should they be removed as quickly as possible. Impregnation immediately after the panels have been laid ensures a perfect finish and ensures longevity.
Travertine as a floor covering for both indoor and outdoor areas is trendy for a reason. It can be designed in a classic, country house style or Mediterranean style and offers something for every taste. Travertine stone slabs are characterized by typical warm color nuances and holes. Designers recommend combining light house walls with travertine in walnut colors as flooring, and visually brightening shady locations with light travertine.
Wood-look panels are particularly trendy for both indoor and outdoor use and are an ideal, easy-care alternative to real wood. Wood-look panels combine the durability of the concrete and the warm, cozy look of the wood. A romantic touch is created in the garden when wood-look panels and beautiful greenery are placed together around a pond.
Limestone is attractive thanks to its friendly cream and champagne tones and provides a striking design for gardens and terraces. A typical feature is usually dark inclusions, which give the unmistakable character of this natural stone, but are considered “weak zones” when it is frosty.
Our tip: play it safe and order some plates as a reserve when you purchase them for possible replacement. Waterproof the natural stone covering immediately after laying.
The sandstone is not considered an exotic rock in itself. In this country it is known for its basic color ranging from reddish to yellow-orange to beige tones. The large proportion of quartz in the sandstone ensures longevity and makes the covering particularly robust. The red-yellow nuance is by no means intrusive, but at sunset or in the morning light it provides an extra dose of warmth.
Split surfaces of stone slabs and broken edges preserve the natural and slightly rustic look of the natural stone. If you choose natural stone slabs for your terrace and garden, the sandstone is multi-faceted with its warm tones and the granite is more for classic, reserved outdoor design.
Stone slabs of different sizes or those made from different types of stone can be successfully combined if the joints are parallel.
The so-called panel installers offer several variants for arranging the panels and are considered more flexible when it comes to creative designs.
