Increase your outdoor space with DIY paving

A patio can increase the usefulness of your home's outdoor space, especially in areas that experience a lot of foot traffic.

Try some DIY paving and reduce the wet, muddy areas of your back or front yard by creating an area that is clean and safe to walk on in any weather. 

First things first - you will need to measure and stake out the area you will be working on. Use small swipes of spray paint to mark out the boundaries of your patio on the grass.

Think about how high your patio will be, by taking into account the height of your pavers and also the amount of foundation required under the stonework - a good six inches of gravel underneath should allow for plenty of drainage.

Excavating the area can be achieved with a hired digger or other earthmoving equipment. Once the space has been cleared for filling with gravel, make sure to line it with a weed mat - this will keep plants from growing up between pavers.

Fill the hole with gravel, then sand, then rake until a smooth surface is achieved.

Add in any wood or aluminium edging features and lay your pavers - be sure to split or shape any that don't fit inside your measured space.