Hello everyone,
We are planning to have our terrace built soon.
Our landscaping contractor offers to install the terrace either on gravel or in mortar concrete.
Since we want a relatively large terrace (36 sqm (387 sq ft)), the concrete option would be much more expensive.
Additionally, in a few years, we would like to add a louvered roof. Installing the slabs on gravel would make it much easier to add concrete footings later on.
However, I keep reading that laying slabs on gravel often causes problems.
Therefore, I would be very interested if anyone can share their personal experience?
Our landscaping contractor said that if we use large slab sizes (at least 80x80 cm (31x31 inches)), he does not see any issues with gravel installation. He would grout with epoxy resin.
Who has installed their terrace on gravel and would do it again, and who would choose differently next time?
Best regards
We are planning to have our terrace built soon.
Our landscaping contractor offers to install the terrace either on gravel or in mortar concrete.
Since we want a relatively large terrace (36 sqm (387 sq ft)), the concrete option would be much more expensive.
Additionally, in a few years, we would like to add a louvered roof. Installing the slabs on gravel would make it much easier to add concrete footings later on.
However, I keep reading that laying slabs on gravel often causes problems.
Therefore, I would be very interested if anyone can share their personal experience?
Our landscaping contractor said that if we use large slab sizes (at least 80x80 cm (31x31 inches)), he does not see any issues with gravel installation. He would grout with epoxy resin.
Who has installed their terrace on gravel and would do it again, and who would choose differently next time?
Best regards
Four years ago, we installed a terrace measuring 4 x 10 meters (13 x 33 feet) using 1 x 1 meter (3.3 x 3.3 feet) ceramic tiles, 2 cm (0.8 inches) thick, set in concrete. It hasn’t shifted at all since then and likely won’t for decades to come. Our second terrace, about 15 square meters (160 square feet) at the same house, was installed using the same method. From my experience, I prefer to invest once rather than twice. Depending on how the subbase is prepared and whether it settles, there can be unpleasant surprises! How big is the difference?
Five years ago, our installation costs were 270 €/m² (25 €/ft²) for concrete and 160 €/m² (15 €/ft²) for gravel work, excluding the cost of the tiles.
Five years ago, our installation costs were 270 €/m² (25 €/ft²) for concrete and 160 €/m² (15 €/ft²) for gravel work, excluding the cost of the tiles.
RE-1407 schrieb:
Four years ago, we installed a terrace measuring 4 x 10 meters (13 x 33 feet) using 1 x 1 meter (3.3 x 3.3 feet) ceramic tiles, 2 cm (0.8 inches) thick, set in concrete, and it still doesn’t move at all. It probably won’t shift for the next several decades either. Our second terrace of about 15 square meters (160 square feet) at the same house was installed following the same method. From my experience, I prefer to invest once rather than twice. Depending on how the subfloor is prepared and whether it "moves," there can be unpleasant surprises! How big is the difference?
Five years ago, our costs were €270 per square meter (concrete) and €160 per square meter (gravel) for the labor, plus the cost of tiles. Well, depending on the region, the difference can be significant nowadays, especially if you don't have a thick base layer. In our case, the difference was €800 because the labor effort was different.
Evolith schrieb:
Well, depending on the region, it can already make a difference today, especially if you’re not closely connected. In our case, the difference was 800€ because the amount of work involved was different.That would definitely be worth it for me. Having the certainty that you won’t have to deal with this "construction site" again in the distant future.B
Bauherrin1239 Oct 2025 00:15Hello, I’m facing the same problem.
I chose 2cm (about 0.8 inches) thick patio slabs, but our landscaper installs them only with mortar, basically gluing them down. If I want them laid on gravel, I should use patio stones that are 7–8cm (about 3–3.1 inches) thick. The thin stone slabs would be too thin at 2–3cm (about 0.8–1.2 inches) and would wobble.
We also don’t yet know where the patio cover will go, but isn’t it possible to cut the slabs precisely with an angle grinder?
We asked another landscaper, who would lay 3cm (about 1.2 inches) slabs on gravel, but not 2cm. Our current landscaper wouldn’t lay even 3cm slabs on gravel.
Now my question is, what other disadvantages do I have if I have 2cm slabs glued with mortar? Frost protection? No matter how many people I ask, everyone says something different. But it can’t be that all trades produce 2cm slabs and that they are so bad?
I chose 2cm (about 0.8 inches) thick patio slabs, but our landscaper installs them only with mortar, basically gluing them down. If I want them laid on gravel, I should use patio stones that are 7–8cm (about 3–3.1 inches) thick. The thin stone slabs would be too thin at 2–3cm (about 0.8–1.2 inches) and would wobble.
We also don’t yet know where the patio cover will go, but isn’t it possible to cut the slabs precisely with an angle grinder?
We asked another landscaper, who would lay 3cm (about 1.2 inches) slabs on gravel, but not 2cm. Our current landscaper wouldn’t lay even 3cm slabs on gravel.
Now my question is, what other disadvantages do I have if I have 2cm slabs glued with mortar? Frost protection? No matter how many people I ask, everyone says something different. But it can’t be that all trades produce 2cm slabs and that they are so bad?
B
Bauherrin1239 Oct 2025 22:43Bauherrin123 schrieb:
Hello, I’m facing the same issue.
I chose 2cm (0.8 inch) thick patio slabs, but our landscaper only installs them using mortar, basically bonding them in place. If I want them installed on a gravel base, I’m told I need patio stones that are 7-8cm (3-3¼ inches) thick. The porcelain stoneware slabs at 2-3cm (0.8-1.2 inches) are considered too thin and would be unstable.
We also haven’t decided yet where the patio cover will go later, but can’t you just cut the slabs precisely with a grinder if needed?
We asked a different landscaper who would install 3cm (1.2 inches) slabs on gravel, but not 2cm. Ours also won’t install 3cm.
Now my question: what other disadvantages do I have if I have the 2cm slabs bonded in mortar? Frost protection? No matter who I ask, I get different answers. But it can’t be that all trades produce 2cm slabs and that is so bad, right?It’s the same situation for me. I want porcelain stoneware but prefer not to have it installed with mortar. I can get 2cm (0.8 inch) slabs cheaply from a friend, but my landscaper insists on mortar installation. Price-wise, it doesn’t make much difference whether they’re installed on gravel or in mortar. I just want to stay flexible and be able to add a patio cover later without having to tear up the patio.
Does anyone else have experience with this?
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