What is the easiest way to lay a patio or decking?

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I am wanting to put some sort of hard surface down in my garden, about 3mx3m. I’ll be doing this myself as it’s so expensive to have someone do it.

The area of garden is bare soil and compacted down and very flat. I suspect though if I was going to do a patio I’d need to dig down deeper so I had more depth for gravel. Which is do’able I guess. My main concern though is how heavy patio slabs are. My garden is 100ft long and I’d have to get any slabs down the far end of the garden, I do have a wheelbarrow. I’ve no idea how heavy patio slabs are. I keep reading conflicting stuff about whether you can just put gravel and sand down, compact it all and then put the slabs on….or if it needs cement. So am confused what to do.

so I was thinking maybe composite decking. You can get interlocking tiles which looks simple but it seems they should only be put on concrete. So then it would be a more traditional composite decking planks but seems they need cutting, etc and need putting on a frame. Not sure how difficult that is?

has anyone done a diy patio/decking and what did you do and how easy was it?

You need to dig down about 15 cm, then put a layer of compacted gravel or hardcore, then either your slabs or decking.

A 600 x 600 x 50mm slab weighs about 40kg.

Thanks, I think that sounds feasible.

Compaction will need a whacker plate. Which you'll need to hire.

Are you sure it isn't better to get someone in to do it?
Laying slabs well is not easy at all

I think I’ve decided to go for a gravel “patio” with railway sleeper borders. Will still need some digging but not as technical hopefully. I did get a quote for a small patio a few years ago and it was thousands!

That's because there is actually a fair amount of skill to doing it well. The compromise sounds good. Don't forget the membrane under the gravel to reduce the weeds

Loads of great videos on YouTube for this, take a look. We’re looking at doing that same thing