Paving your garden
A complete guide
Paving your garden can be a challenging task, but with the right preparation and tools, you can achieve beautiful results yourself. Here you will find tips, a video and instruction booklets with advice on paving your garden with tiles from the BasicSteen, GeoSteen® or GeoCeramica® collections. These decorative paving stones can be laid on a levelled sand bed.
Do it yourself or outsource to a professional
Paving your garden yourself is not for everyone. It is physically demanding work, and without the right equipment, it can be difficult. If you are unsure, consider hiring a landscaper or paver. Follow the steps below to determine whether you can do it yourself.
Stable foundation
A stable foundation is crucial for decorative paving. This means at least a well-compacted sand bed with high drainage capacity. Good drainage prevents subsidence and lime efflorescence, which is normal with concrete tiles and disappears over time. The better the foundation, the longer your paving will remain beautifully smooth.
Paving your garden in 10 steps
- Place edging strips to keep the patio in place and prevent it from “creeping”.
- Ensure a stable and well-drained sand bed with a minimum thickness of 20-30 cm.
- Finish the sand bed with a 3-5 cm layer of gravel for good drainage (reduces the risk of lime efflorescence).
- Allow for a slope of 1 cm per linear metre.
- Check the decorative paving supplied for item code, colour, size and any breakage.
- Always mix the tiles well from different packages and lay them “head to toe” from top to bottom (in columns).
- Do not lay the tiles tightly together, but create a joint of at least 3 mm. MBI decorative paving is equipped with spacers, which automatically create joints.
- Carefully tap the tiles into the sand bed with a rubber hammer. Large tiles should not be vibrated into place!
- Never saw on the paving to prevent cement stains.
- Once the tiles are neatly laid, grout them with MBI Weed-inhibiting Grout Sand or AquaColor Joint grout.
Below the video, you will find detailed instructions for the various components.
Important basis for garden paving
Foundation
A well-compacted sand bed with a minimum thickness of 20 cm is essential. Use the right sand and ensure a solid foundation with an extra layer of 10 cm coarse gravel or crushed rubble under the sand bed for heavier paving. Compact the layers well with a vibrating plate.
Road surface
The top layer in which you lay the tiles consists of 3 to 5 cm of fine gravel or masonry sand. Add trass cement for extra strength if necessary. Finish the road surface horizontally, but do not compact it too tightly.
Photo: sand bed covered with a layer of masonry sand mixed with cement.
Slope
To prevent waterlogging, always lay the paving at a slope. Ensure that water can drain away into the garden, border or drainage gutters. The rule of thumb for this is approximately 1 cm per linear metre.
Edging
After applying the sand bed, create the edging with concrete strips. Take the slope into account and lay the concrete strips 1 cm lower than the desired paving.
Drainage
During heavy rainfall, a slope alone may not be sufficient. Use drainage gutters to guide the water to a drainage point. We recommend ACO drainage products, available from authorised MBI dealers.
Laying the tiles
Mixing the garden tiles
Mix the garden tiles from different packages and layers to achieve a beautiful colour nuance. Take the tiles from different packages to prevent tiles from the same production batch from being laid next to each other.
Prevent scratches
Do not slide the tiles over each other and keep them free of sand and sharp materials. Avoid walking on newly laid garden tiles.
Cutting and rinsing
Always cut the tiles wet and rinse immediately afterwards to prevent cement stains. Never cut on paving that has already been laid. Rinse the patio clean after each working day.
Jointing
Always joint the paving to keep the paving tight and prevent damage. Use the correct jointing material and follow the instructions on the packaging. Never sweep the joints with street sand, as this is particularly susceptible to weed growth.
With these tips and steps, you are well prepared to pave your garden yourself and achieve a durable and beautiful result.
MBI Installation Advice
This handy reference guide explains step by step how to best install our decorative paving. From preparing the sub-base to finishing touches! It also includes useful maintenance tips.
Perfect cutting with MBI Tilemaster
The MBI Tilemaster series saw blades are perfect for cutting decorative paving in the garden. Tilemaster Concrete is specially designed for cutting concrete decorative paving and Tilemaster Ceramics for cutting GeoCeramica®. Both are available in two sizes and can be used in both stone saws and saw tables thanks to their removable shaft ring.
A sharp and suitable saw blade is particularly important when cutting GeoCeramica® to prevent splintered edges.
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