ᐅ Patio: Three Different Implementation Ideas from Three Landscaping Experts

Hello everyone,

We recently finished building and are currently planning our garden with a terrace. The terrace will face south and measure 40m2 (430 sq ft). We have planned to use 80 x 80 x 2 cm (32 x 32 x 0.8 inches) porcelain tiles. The terrace should be accessible from the living room via a minimal step of 1 cm (0.4 inches). We obtained quotes from three landscaping contractors. Each one proposed a different construction method:

• Reinforced concrete + crushed stone + tiles with a drainage channel in front of the door + edge stones
• Reinforced concrete + 5 cm (2 inches) drainage concrete slab + tiles + no drainage channel + no edge stones
• Gravel + geotextile fabric + crushed stone + tiles + no drainage channel + edge stones

What do you think about these construction ideas?

Thanks in advance

For 2cm (0.8 inch) slabs, I would recommend using drain concrete. Also use curbstones, because without them, overgrowing grass and similar issues always look untidy. A channel drain is basically essential, but I would skip it for a covered terrace.

nordanney schrieb:

For 2cm (0.8 inches) slabs, I would use drain concrete. Also curbstones, because without them, overgrowing grass and similar always looks untidy. A channel drain is basically a must, but I would skip it for a covered terrace.

Thanks for the reply. Why drain concrete? Is drain concrete gravel mixed with cement?

home2020 schrieb:

Why drainage concrete? Is drainage concrete just gravel mixed with cement?

It is a single-size aggregate concrete, which makes it permeable. It’s not simply gravel mixed with cement.

I would rather say, why not use gravel? Because with very high probability, the slabs will eventually (sooner rather than later) start to wobble.

nordanney schrieb:

This is a single-grain concrete, which makes it permeable to water. It’s not just gravel mixed with cement.

I would rather say, why not use gravel? Because there’s a very high chance that the slabs will start wobbling at some point (probably sooner rather than later).

Thank you.

For the single-grain/drainage concrete option, the landscaper wants 8,000 euros. The slabs are not included in the price. He said it would take about three days. I think 8,000 is quite a lot for that. What do you think?

I did it myself last year: 43 sqm (463 sq ft).
Excluding terrace tiles, I paid 3,600 euros for materials and it took 4 days with 3 people.