How to construct an outdoor patio floor using decking tiles?

[Mike_Hn]

Hi Everybody 

I feel excited to recently join this community and this is my first post. I recently bought a house and very new to DIY.

i am planning to upgrade my outdoor sitting area floor as shown in picture. I am considering to get these pavers installed and later put some some deck tiles on it

Few questions 

1 - Do i need to put concrete below or on top of pavers for their installation?

2 - Is deck tiles a good idea here or i can just go ahead with extending same grey existing tiles once pavers are installed 

Appreciate your suggestions to help on my first project.

Thanks

Mike

 

 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Mike_Hn. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about laying pavers.

Congratulations on your new home.

If you're planning to use deck tiles over the pavers, you'll need to properly prepare the area. Start by removing the grass and adjusting the soil height to ensure the combined height of the pavers and deck tiles sits flush with your existing tiles. To create a stable base, add a layer of compacted road base. Once the base is solid, you can lay the pavers directly on top, providing a suitable foundation for your deck tiles. Check out this step-by-step guide: How to lay paving for a path.

If you'd prefer to extend the existing grey tiles instead, you'll need to pour a concrete slab over the area. Once the slab has cured, you'll be able to adhere the tiles directly to it. It's important to note that tiles can't be laid directly on pavers as they require a more stable and uniform substrate like concrete. Here's a helpful guide: How to pour a concrete slab.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Mike_Hn]

Hi @MitchellMc  , Many thanks for your feedback, this is really helpful , so probably i will go with the paving and deck tiles option

Just a question in the video How to lay paving for a path. , when laying the bricks pavers there is no cement used to join them and at the end only sand is sprayed over . Will this be enough for my case as well so pavers dont move along or i can use some cement+sand mixture to glue the bricks together

Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @Mike_Hn 

It's probable that they used Easy Mix 20kg Paver Bond Polymeric Sand. It is a blend of kiln-dried fine sand, and a gelling agent formulated to create a cohesive joint between pavers. Once activated with water, the gelling agent causes the sand to clump together which makes it more difficult for ants to burrow and for weeds to take root. But if you wish for a more permanent bond the sand+cement mixture can also be put in.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Mike_Hn]

Hi @EricL , Thanks for your feedback 

i have decided to build a low level deck instead of using decking tiles

Should i still lay brick pavers OR can prepare surface using weed sheet and sand/gravel 

Which option do you think is better for my area , probably in terms of drainage? - Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @Mike_Hn 

I recommend using pavers as the base for the footing. The weedmat and gravel is definitely something you should use, but I suggest addressing the drain first before you put any of those items on the soil. I suggest looking at these guides -How to build a low-level deck by @Adam_W and How to build a deck by @MitchellMc. They will give you a very god idea of how you can assemble your decking frame. I suggest drawing up a plan either on paper or PC and sharing it with along with any questions might have for the community. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @Mike_Hn 

I have some questions about the low level deck you are thinking of to help you picture it.

How close to ground level do you want it to be?

The existing tiles are at ground level, what happens to the water that flows off them when it rains?

Is there an actual drain you can feed the water towards?

How much of a step up do you want from the tiles to the new deck or are you also going to be covering the tiles?

How much space/height is between the existing tiles and the back door?

These will help you figure out what needs to be done, I like to sketch it out first (As @EricL  has mentioned it helps a lot), then another sketch with measurements on it. That helps me form up a list of the resources needed, With the sketches you can visualize the area, you also can factor in any standing pools of water after rain and areas that may get supper warm in summer.

Dave