How Early In The Year Can You Get A New Patio Laid?

Now the New Year has begun, you may have some big plans for the outside of your home, whether it is changes to the garden, a new driveway or laying a patio. But when is the right time to do the last of these things?

Few would suggest that January in Shropshire is an ideal time, especially after the snowy start to the year. But could February be soon enough for the work? Or is March or April the best time?

What Conditions Are Necessary For Laying A Patio?

Experts like ourselves, with extensive knowledge of laying patios and the ideal conditions for this work, know that winter is far from ideal. The optimal conditions for laying a patio will include the following:

•    The soil water content needs to be just right, not too wet and not too dry
•   This means you need less rainfall and more evaporation
•     You need an air temperature between 10 and 21 degrees C, as this is when concrete and mortar set best

These conditions very rarely arise in winter and it is especially hard to book a time without knowing what the temperature will be next week. Instead, the ideal time is in the spring or early summer, when the weather is more likely to be dry and temperatures will almost certainly be higher. Therefore, March is the earliest reasonable time to do it.

Having the patio installed in the spring can be ideal for another reason. Not only is it late enough after the start of the year for the temperature to be warm enough and the soil sufficiently dry, but it can also be early enough for the garden to grow up and flourish around it, ensuring that you have the look you want by the middle of summer.

You might be keen to get moving swiftly with your plans for the year, but when it comes to a patio, a little patience will help ensure that your patio installation is literally built on firm foundations and sets firmly, giving you a high-quality surface that will look great for many years.