Laying 20mm porcelain tiles over gravel

[peelywheely]

Hi. Our gravel side return and courtyard type garden is very crunchy. I was hoping to lay a path on it with minimal effort. I saw some 20mm thick porcelain tiles I quite like and I was hoping to use these almost like stepping stones. Can I lay them directly on the gravel do you think? Should I add sand to the bits of gravel that will be under them? Or is there a better option all together? I don't have that much time or a particularly huge budget!! Thanks!

I'd put a good layer of sand down, but you have to be careful not to raise the ground level too high against the side of the house, you don't want to bridge the DPC. Ideally you need at least 15cm from ground to DPC level.

Thanks Sirrah. Would you clear the area below the tiles of gravel and just put sand there? I think it would be easier to get flat that way, but I was worried about the sand washing out when it rained? I have already dug a small trench about 30cm deep around the sides of the house and filled with gravel. The house has render a few brick courses tall that goes over the DPC at the bottom of the house - which I think made damp worse. I can't take this off though without spalling all the bricks!

I would remove the gravel I think, that would give you a more level path, less of a trip hazard.

My son has just bought a house with render on a couple of walls which extends down the the floor level, he'll be taking the bottom 15cm off as advised. I doubt it'll damage the bricks if it's done carefully, I've seen renovations where the render has been completely removed and the bricks look fine.

I would check they won't crack if they're not completely flat.