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
I have done this several times and it is generally not a problem as long as the work is done cleanly and leveled very precisely. However, it is more important that the substructure is stable and properly compacted. If the slab wobbles on a gravel base, you can fix the problem within 5 minutes, but not if it’s set in mortar. I left the joints open, but with a 3mm (0.12 inch) gap, it’s not much anyway.
Why not pour the foundations now if you already know there will be a roof structure later?
Why not pour the foundations now if you already know there will be a roof structure later?
What should I pay attention to when preparing the substructure?
Do you constantly get weeds growing through the joints?
It would be ideal to lay the foundations now, but as of today, we don’t yet know exactly where the pergola will be placed or which product will be used.
Do you constantly get weeds growing through the joints?
It would be ideal to lay the foundations now, but as of today, we don’t yet know exactly where the pergola will be placed or which product will be used.
Hi,
36 sqm (387 sq ft) is quite a large area, so the substructure really needs to be done properly. That means a load-bearing ground, well-compacted frost protection gravel (at least 25–30 cm (10–12 inches)), and the gravel bed neatly leveled. This ensures long-lasting stability.
It’s true that larger slabs from 80×80 cm (31×31 inches) are less problematic when installed on gravel because their own weight helps keep them steady. Regarding the joints: epoxy resin is low-maintenance, but when combined with gravel it can be tricky because it is rigid and may crack quickly with even the slightest movement. An open joint of 3 mm (0.1 inch) with regular sweeping to prevent weeds is the easier maintenance option, though not entirely maintenance-free.
If you plan to add a roof later and haven’t decided how or where yet, gravel definitely has an advantage. That way, you can easily add foundations afterward without having to tear up half of the terrace.
Regards,
Chris
36 sqm (387 sq ft) is quite a large area, so the substructure really needs to be done properly. That means a load-bearing ground, well-compacted frost protection gravel (at least 25–30 cm (10–12 inches)), and the gravel bed neatly leveled. This ensures long-lasting stability.
It’s true that larger slabs from 80×80 cm (31×31 inches) are less problematic when installed on gravel because their own weight helps keep them steady. Regarding the joints: epoxy resin is low-maintenance, but when combined with gravel it can be tricky because it is rigid and may crack quickly with even the slightest movement. An open joint of 3 mm (0.1 inch) with regular sweeping to prevent weeds is the easier maintenance option, though not entirely maintenance-free.
If you plan to add a roof later and haven’t decided how or where yet, gravel definitely has an advantage. That way, you can easily add foundations afterward without having to tear up half of the terrace.
Regards,
Chris
Thank you for your assessment. Assuming we use large tiles measuring 80x80 cm (31x31 inches) or 100x100 cm (39x39 inches), then, if I understand you correctly, there shouldn’t be any significant movement of the tiles, right? In that case, epoxy resin would also work well, wouldn’t it?
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