What is crazy paving and why is it popular for barbecue areas?
Crazy paving is a floor made of irregular, flat pieces of natural stone fitted together with joints of varying shape. It is popular under gazebos and around barbecues because it looks informal and hand-made, suits rustic structures in timber or brick, and can be shaped around obstacles without the repetitive cuts that regular pavers need.
In Spain this type of floor is often called piedra irregular or laja. Each stone is chosen for its shape and placed so that joints stay reasonably even and no long straight lines run through the surface. Good crazy paving avoids small fillers bunched together and very thin slivers at the edges, both of which tend to loosen. That selection and trimming is what makes it slower to lay than block paving, and why the result depends so much on the hand of whoever lays it.
Our guide to natural stone in the garden explains the main kinds of stone used for crazy paving, how they differ in thickness and colour, and what to ask a supplier before buying. If you have already chosen a stone, send us a photo of it with your pictures of the area, so we can comment on whether its thickness and shape suit a floor that will carry furniture.
Should the stone be laid on a bed or bonded to a concrete base?
Crazy paving is usually bonded with mortar onto a concrete base, because irregular stones of uneven thickness are hard to hold in place on a loose bed. Regular pavers and slabs under a gazebo can be laid on a grit bed like any terrace.
A bonded crazy-paving floor starts with a compacted sub-base and a concrete slab that already carries the fall. The stones are then set into mortar, levelled against each other and the joints filled and pointed. We work with Mapei products for the bonding and jointing materials on this kind of floor. Because the result is rigid, the slab underneath must be continuous and properly supported, and any movement joint needed in the slab is carried through to the stone surface. On our materials site, concrete base for paving explains how such a slab is built.
How do you pave around gazebo posts, pergolas and a built barbecue?
Posts, walls and the barbecue are set first, and the floor is fitted around them. Paving first and fixing posts on top is possible with some structures, but it means drilling through the finished floor, which risks cracking stone. Knowing the final position and size of every post, and the footprint of the barbecue, is therefore the first thing we ask for.
Timber gazebos and pergolas generally stand on footings or anchor plates. We agree with the carpenter or supplier whether the posts sit on the slab or on separate footings, and at what level, so that the floor meets each post cleanly and water does not gather around the base of the timber. Next to a brick barbecue or outdoor kitchen, the floor is finished up to the masonry with a neat edge. Building the barbecue itself is masonry work outside our scope; we coordinate with whoever builds it.
- Fall: away from the barbecue and the gazebo posts, towards the garden or a channel
- Edges: a clear border where the stone meets lawn, gravel or a path
- Services: ducts for lighting, a gas line or a water supply to a sink, laid before the slab
- Furniture: a flatter finish where the dining table stands, so chairs do not rock
Is natural stone practical next to a barbecue?
It is practical as long as you accept that grease and charcoal will mark it and that cleaning is part of owning it. Darker and more textured stones hide marks better than pale, smooth ones, and a little patina is part of the character of a stone floor that is used often.
Fat spattered from a grill, dropped charcoal and red wine are the usual culprits. Wiping spills promptly and keeping a mat or a hard tray under the grill area helps. Some owners prefer to use concrete pavers or slabs in the cooking zone and crazy paving for the dining area, which keeps the rustic look where people sit. We avoid promising stain or heat resistance for any stone or treatment; if you are considering a sealer, ask the supplier for its documented properties. Cleaning methods for each surface are covered in looking after outdoor paving.
How does a barbecue or gazebo floor connect to the rest of the garden?
Most gazebo areas are reached by a path from the house or pool, and the floor and the path should be planned together. The path can be in the same stone, or in pavers with a stone border, so the two read as one design.
Think too about how people move between the kitchen and the outdoor table. A floor that continues without a step from the house door to the gazebo makes carrying plates and trays safer, while a change of level is easier to manage with a short flight of steps than with a slope. Lighting along that route and at the edge of the gazebo floor helps on summer evenings, and its cables belong in ducts before the slab is cast.
One of the photos on our projects page shows a crazy-paving path being laid in front of a timber gazebo, which is a common combination. See garden paths for how routes are set out, and patios and porches if your dining area sits under a covered porch rather than a free-standing structure. The article on what a terrace or garden job with us looks like walks through the stages from first visit to clean-up.
When budgeting, remember that crazy paving takes more labour per square metre than regular paving because each stone is placed individually, and that a concrete base adds a stage. The network's cost factors page lists what shifts a quote, and the calculator gives a first estimate before you contact us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between crazy paving and flagstones?
Flagstones are cut to regular shapes, usually rectangles, and laid in a pattern with straight joints. Crazy paving uses irregular pieces fitted together like a jigsaw, with joints that change direction. Crazy paving looks more informal and suits rustic gazebos and barbecue corners; flagstones look more ordered.
Can crazy paving be laid on sand?
It can be done with thicker, more regular stones, but most crazy paving uses pieces of uneven thickness that rock or shift on a loose bed. For a floor that carries tables and chairs, we recommend bonding the stone to a concrete base with mortar, which keeps every piece firmly in place.
Do you build the barbecue or the gazebo as well?
No. We lay the floor and any paths around it. The barbecue, outdoor kitchen, pergola or gazebo is built by a mason, carpenter or supplier. We coordinate with them so that footings, posts and masonry are set at the right level before the floor is laid.
Will grease from the barbecue stain the stone?
Grease and charcoal can mark natural stone, especially pale and porous types. Darker, textured stone hides marks better. Prompt cleaning, a protective mat under the grill and choosing a less absorbent stone all help. We do not claim that any stone or treatment is stain-proof.
Can the floor under a gazebo be paved in normal pavers?
Yes. Concrete pavers or slabs laid on a grit bed are a straightforward option under a gazebo and are easier to keep flat for furniture. They also allow posts to be added or moved later more easily than a bonded stone floor. It comes down to the look you prefer.
How is water drained from a covered pergola floor?
Even under a roof, the floor needs a slight fall because rain blows in from the sides and drips off the edge of the cover. We set the fall away from posts and the barbecue, towards the garden or a channel, so water never sits around timber or masonry.
Can you pave an area that already has a pergola standing?
Yes. We work around the existing posts, protecting them during excavation and making sure the new floor does not bury the base of the timber. If the posts stand on poor footings or are rotten at the base, it is worth dealing with that before the new floor goes in.
What stone is used for crazy paving?
Several types of natural stone are sold for crazy paving, varying in colour, thickness and how they split. The right one depends on the style of the garden, how much shade the area gets and the look you want. Our natural stone guide explains the differences and what to ask a supplier.
Can lighting or a gas line be run under the floor?
Yes. Ducts for lighting cables, a gas supply to the barbecue or a water line to an outdoor sink should be laid before the base or slab is built. Gas installations must be carried out by an authorised installer; we leave the duct and coordinate the timing with them.
Is a crazy-paving floor harder to repair later?
Repairing a bonded stone floor is more involved than lifting a few pavers, because each stone is set in mortar. A loose stone can be lifted and rebedded, and a cracked one replaced with a similar piece, though an exact colour match is not always possible with natural stone.