The brief
The family wanted somewhere to put a corner sofa that was not the lawn: level, dry underfoot in October, and easy to keep clean.
Challenges
- Heavy clay that held water; the base needed a free-draining layer and a fall away from the house
- A hedge on two sides meant working from one direction only
- The terrace had to sit flush with the lawn so there was no trip edge
Preparation
Dug out to 200mm, 150mm of MOT type 1 compacted in two layers, falls set to drain to the lawn side away from the house.
Materials
- 20mm vitrified porcelain, large format
- Contrasting porcelain border
- Full mortar bed with slurry primer to every slab
- Flexible jointing compound
Installation
Slabs laid on a full bed with primer so nothing sits hollow. Border cut in to a straight line then the lawn re-turfed up to it so the edge is flush.
