The Brief
From bumpy roots and concrete to a family dinner patio!
My brother Fynn and I built this 8x8 Rünnen patio for our neighbor Kerstin, who we met on Nextdoor. The backyard corner was rough — bumpy tree roots, protruding concrete piles from a bygone structure, and soil that wasn't going to support anything level without serious prep work.
Kerstin wanted a clean, flat surface to put a table on and eat dinner with her family outside. Simple goal — but getting there meant building it right from the ground up.
The Build
Excavation
The first step was digging out a large square hole to give us space for the base substrate. If you put pavers or tiles directly on soil, it's just one rainy season away from squiffy. We hauled out 7 massive concrete piles and removed over 60 cubic feet of seriously tough earth.
The frame
Once we had the area leveled and evenly compacted, we installed the outer pressure-treated lumber frame and secured it with 8 rebar stakes, each driven two feet into the ground. The frame gives us an easy way to flatten the layers of soil, gravel, and bedding sand — and it acts as a barrier to keep the patio tiles from spreading out over time.
Gravel and sand
Next we added 3 inches of crushed aggregate — this allows water to drain easily and won't expand or contract at different moisture levels, which would cause the patio to become uneven over time. We compacted the gravel and screeded an inch of bedding sand using a jig we made — the sand gives a nice even surface for the tiles to sink into while allowing rainfall to drain into the ground.
Placing the tiles
Finally we began placing the Rünnen tiles — Fynn was on placing duty while I trimmed and cut tiles on our table saw for a perfect fit. To finish it off we compacted the tiles into the sand with the tamper, placing a piece of cardboard between the tamper and tiles so as not to damage them. Then we hosed it off and took some pictures.
Built to Last
A patio is only as good as what's underneath it. Here's why this one will stay level:
- Pressure-treated lumber frame secured with 8 rebar stakes, each driven 2 feet into the ground
- 3 inches of crushed aggregate for drainage — won't expand or contract with moisture
- 1 inch of bedding sand, screeded flat with a custom jig
- Tiles compacted into the sand with a tamper for a firm, even surface
- Over 60 cubic feet of earth and 7 concrete piles removed before any building began
The Result
The finished 8x8 Rünnen patio — ready for a table, some chairs, and family dinners outside.
From bumpy roots and protruding concrete to a beautiful patio to eat dinner with the family on — that's the kind of transformation we love.
