Essential Home Maintenance Tips to Beat the Heat in Summer

Don't Sweat It! Home Maintenance for a Cooler Summer

1. Things you'll need: materials and tools

• Tools and materials that are important

• • • To begin, you will need a spade, a rubber hammer, a spirit level, a shovel, and a string line. You will need paving blocks, sand, cement, and hardcore to build the floor. You may need a different slab for each job, so choosing the ones that look good and work well is essential.

• How to Pick the Right Materials

• • It's essential to pick the right things. Choose thicker and more durable materials to make the slabs last longer and stay stable. Think about the slabs' colour and shape. They should match the outside of your house and the plants already there. KBS Builders Merchant has many good paving products that can be used for different jobs.

2. Drawing up plans and ideas

• Planning the layout and measuring it

• • • Measure the area to determine how much material you need. Use string lines to make a plan, and make sure there are gaps between the slabs for joins. If you make your plan on paper first, you can see the pattern better and avoid cutting and throwing away too much.

• Patterns and layouts chosen

• • It’s always a good idea to choose paving, which will help the area stand out and bring elegance. Some easy patterns that work well for small areas are a stack bond or a stretcher bond. For more extensive areas, designs with more parts, like a herringbone or a random list, can make them more attractive.

3. Getting the base ready

• Getting Down to the Right Level

• • • Dig the area to the proper depth to make room for the rock width, sub-base, and mortar. It needs to be at least 150 mm shorter than the final height. Check the area to ensure there are no bugs or other things.

• Building a Base That Is Strong and Level

• • A plate breaker should compact the sub-base, which should be about 100 mm thick. Then, put down a layer of sharp sand. Level it out with a rake and pack it again to make a stable floor.

4. Putting down mortar and making it

• Mixing concrete or mortar

• • • Mix one part of cement with four parts of sand to make plaster. Slowly add water until the ingredients are wet enough to work with, but don't stick together too much.

• Different ways to use it

• • Place a layer of mortar on top of the base you just made. The first rock will go on top of this. Over the mortar bed, it should be 30 to 40 mm thick.

5. Putting down the paver stones

• How to Lay the Base

• • • Put the first concrete slab on top of the mortar bed and hit it lightly with a rubber hammer to set it in place. With a spirit level, ensure the surface is level; add or remove mortar to fix it. Keep putting blocks down with the same gap between each one. A string line can help you line up all the rocks.

• Making Sure It's Level and Lined Up

• • Check the level and line frequently as you work. As you add more slabs, you may need to make changes to keep the surface level and at the proper slope for drainage.

6. The last touches

• Putting cracks in

• • • To make the floor last longer, fill the spaces between the slabs with sand and cement or plastic sand after they are all set up. In the joints, spread the mix, press it down, and then brush off any extra.

• Putting on caps and taking care of slabs

• • This could help the colour stand out, stop stains, and make your patio or walkway last longer. It would help if you covered the paving with a suitable sealer.

7. How to Keep Things Running

• Clean and sweep your floors often to prevent dirt and algae from building up. Fix any broken or loose parts immediately to keep the paved area in good shape.

Summary