Basics of laying tile or stone paving.

There is a trend in home improvement that is intriguing, as it is a bit of a retro movement. Usually, home remodeling is focused upon the latest greatest structural innovations. Odd it is then that the past becomes the future. This back to other days following is in the area of paving for the home. Everyone wants to go green where ever it is possible. And nothing is greener than stone for paving. Natural stone used in paving is durable, (it’s made from rocks, they last for millions of years), attractive and has excellent heat relative properties. It is cool in the summer.

If you are considering tearing up the plastic floors in the kitchen and laying paving as a means of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out, you should know that installation of paving is one of the easiest jobs to do. Of course, if your time does not permit it or the overall weight of the stones is beyond your strength, then by all means hire your favorite contractor – but, it never hurts to know a little about the process just to keep your workmen honest.
First let us discuss the basics of indoor installation. In laying indoor tile or paving, remember that the stone must adhere solidly to the previous floor. If your floor is concrete then simply rip away at the present cover until the slab is exposed. You will then spread a thin layer (3/8ths inch thick) of mortar evenly on a small portion (a couple of square metres) of the soon to be paved floor. Now, simply place the paving tiles on the mortar and give them a little press into the cement. There are plastic spacers available at the supply store that will, when pressed into the corners where four tile meet will, ensure that all are equally spaced. Now lay a 3-4 foot spirit level across the stones from one to the next and check that they are level from one to the next. If any corners or spots are high, just give that spot on the top of the level a little tap with your palm until the bubble in the tool is centered. Work your way from inside the room to out placing stones in the pattern you chose. The next day when the mortar has dried simply mix a grout and squeeze it into the cracks between the tile or stone. Anyone can do this.

Should your old floor be made of wood, the variations are as follows:

• You will use a mastic instead of mortar as a paving adhesive.
• The grout you use should be of the acrylic kind with sand blended in. These usually come premixed in plastic pails.

Onward to outdoor paving… Let us assume you have finished laying a beautiful slate floor in the kitchen and now would like to step down to the patio onto a similar surface. Regardless of the type of paving stone you choose, the process is still similar to your indoor project. Outdoor stones should be at least twice as thick but can be made of the exact same material. To begin with, the earth upon which the stone will be laid must be cleared of debris, graded and filled to a basic degree of level. This can be accomplished with standard garden tools. Once you have established the size of the projected patio drive stakes into the corners of the graded area. Tie a length of string from stake to stake mapping out the area of your project. At this point you should have a simple flat earthen rectangle mapped. You won’t use mortar as an adhesive for your patio, but you will want to make sure the substrata is level. You don’t want any tottering stones. In place of adhesive, shovel into your projected floor a one inch thickness of course grained sand or fine grained gravel. Rake this to an even grade. In much the same manner as our indoor flooring you simply place the tiles onto the gravel in the pattern you chose and tap them to level. The outdoor paving being a heavier process you will need to tap the stones level with a rubber mallet. Should a tile or two be low, simply pry it up and scatter a bit more sand or gravel beneath it.

You may or may not choose to space outdoor paving. Should you space the stones, say an inch apart, then those gaps must be filled. Fill them with soil if you intend them to be grassed, gravel should you desire quick drainage, or mortar if this patio will at times be used as a fabulous outdoor dance floor.
Paving inside and outside of the home is a superb way to add a taste of enduring luxury to your home. And whether you are placing marble tile in the foyer or bricks along the garden path, the process of laying tile and stone is always similar and fairly
simple.