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
B
Bauherrin12312 Oct 2025 12:09Offer 1:
Compact 30cm (12 inches) of gravel, then lay a single-grain concrete layer, and bond the slab on top. The entire construction will have a slope.
The house wall will be further insulated with extruded polystyrene (e.g., Styrodur) and a dimpled membrane, with a layer of Bitumen felt applied in front, I believe. A narrow strip along the wall will be painted anthracite. The cost will be 6000 euros plus 2000 euros for the slabs, totaling 8000 euros. I think this is quite reasonable and rather affordable. Approximately 80m2 (860 sq ft) will be installed.
Compact 30cm (12 inches) of gravel, then lay a single-grain concrete layer, and bond the slab on top. The entire construction will have a slope.
The house wall will be further insulated with extruded polystyrene (e.g., Styrodur) and a dimpled membrane, with a layer of Bitumen felt applied in front, I believe. A narrow strip along the wall will be painted anthracite. The cost will be 6000 euros plus 2000 euros for the slabs, totaling 8000 euros. I think this is quite reasonable and rather affordable. Approximately 80m2 (860 sq ft) will be installed.
B
Bauherrin12312 Oct 2025 14:42Now the only thing that must not ruin our plans is the weather. One week with no rain, then it rains continuously for two weeks. At which steps does it need to be done quickly to avoid getting wet?
B
Bauherrin12312 Oct 2025 15:40Tolentino schrieb:
As long as it’s not a heavy downpour, it’s actually not a big problem, just unpleasant for the worker. It shouldn’t freeze, and direct sunlight with temperatures over 30°C (86°F) would be problematic when pouring concrete. But that’s not expected anymore... Thanks a lot. You can’t fully rely on the weather forecast—no rain for a week, then a 30 percent chance, maybe it won’t rain at all. Anyway, I was very stressed and am glad I’ve finally made my decision now. For the contractor and the slabs and installation method. The only downside is, we don’t know yet where the terrace roof will go, which means later we might have to drill some tiles with an angle grinder.
I definitely want to build the terrace this year; work starts next week.
N
nordanney12 Oct 2025 20:30Bauherrin123 schrieb:
The only annoying thing is, we don’t know where the terrace roof will go, meaning later you’d have to drill through some tiles with an angle grinder.Covered patios often require isolated footings. It’s better to consider this now rather than making mistakes later that won’t be easy (or cheap) to fix.Similar topics