A garden only looks finished when the water drains away after a rain. Whether it's a lawn, a patio or a paved driveway, the basics are the same: the right height and the right slope. A rotating laser can do it for you.
Lawn: flat without puddles
The lawn does not have to be perfectly level – on the contrary, a slight slope away from the house (approximately 1-2%) will prevent water from standing near the foundation.
- Place the laser on a tripod at the edge of the garden.
- At the house, adjust the receiver on the pole to the desired terrain height.
- At the far end, expect a drop – at 1.5%, that's 15 mm for every meter.
- Level the ground according to the receiver, ideally in several rows of pegs.
Terrace: slope always away from the house
For a patio made of paving stones or concrete, a slope is mandatory. A slope of 1.5-2% towards the house is recommended.
- With a classic laser, calculate the slope on the battens (e.g. 4 m terrace at 2% = 80 mm difference).
- With a digital slope laser , you enter 2.00% directly on the display in the direction away from the house and the receiver simply checks the level.
Interlocking paving: the substrate is crucial
The paving is only as flat as the substrate. Procedure:
- Excavation – use a laser to check the depth of the excavation over the entire area.
- Gravel bed – compact in layers and check the height with a receiver.
- Crushed stone (bed 3-5 cm) - pull it down with a lath along the guide tubes that you installed according to the laser.
- Paving – check the slope again after vibrating.
| Area | Recommended slope |
|---|---|
| Lawn by the house | 1-2% |
| Terrace | 1.5-2% |
| Sidewalk | 1 – 2% transversely |
| Arrival, parking lot | 2-2.5% |
The values are common practice - for larger areas and when connecting to the sewer system, follow the project.
Why a laser and not a cord?
The cord bends and the hose level is slow. The laser keeps the entire garden level and you measure alone, without an assistant - on a larger area this means hours of saved work.
Are you working on a garden or paving a paved area? We will be happy to advise you on whether a classic laser is enough for you or whether a digital model for slopes is worth it.