Patios · Autumn
What Autumn Rain Shows You About Your Patio
October is when a patio shows its faults. Water sits on the surface after rain, a slab rocks underfoot, a joint opens up. The weather gets the blame, but the cause is nearly always underneath.
What to look for after a wet spell
- Water pooling on the slabs
- Slabs that rock or have sunk
- Cracked mortar beds and joints that have opened
- A damp problem beside an existing patio
Why winter makes it worse
Ayrshire gets freeze-thaw cycles in winter. When the ground moves, a sub-base that is too shallow or uneven lets the slabs rock, the mortar bed crack and the joints open. The water needs somewhere to go as well. A patio surface needs a fall of at least 1:80, around 12mm per metre, away from the house and towards a drainage point.
How John builds a patio
John builds every patio on a minimum of 100mm of compacted MOT Type 1, with a cement and sharp sand mortar bed on top. He surveys the site for drainage before any slabs are ordered or ground is broken, and channel drains are installed where they are needed. If an old patio has been part of a damp problem, he deals with the root cause instead of covering it over. He will recommend the right material for your site, and nothing is ordered until you are happy with the recommendation and the price.
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JM All Trades Ayrshire Ltd · Serving Ayr, Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Patna, Drongan & all of Ayrshire · 07990 226785