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How to calculate pedestals for pavers?

Józef Baar
Product Manager
how many adjustable pedestals per m2 of a ventilated terrace made of tiles
You are planning to install a ventilated terrace on adjustable pedestals and you are wondering how to calculate pedestals for pavers - you've come to the right place! We will explain how to correctly calculate the demand for your scope.
Dans cet article, vous apprendrez:
How to measure your terrace
How to calculate how many adjustable pedestals per m2 you need
How much should you place the adjustable pedestals so that the terrace is stable and serves for years

If you plan to install a ventilated terrace based on adjustable pedestals, whether fixed height or adjustable ones, and you are wondering how to calculate pedestals for pavers - you've come to the right place! We will explain how to correctly calculate the demand for your scope.

Calculating the number of needed adjustable pedestals and determining their height

Calculating the number and height of adjustable pedestals is, from our experience, one of the biggest challenges in the implementation of a ventilated terrace. Both for individual customers and companies handling the order; sellers and contractors.

We meet this challenge and will try to answer the question of how many adjustable pedestals per m2 are needed and guide you step by step on how to calculate pedestals for pavers for a ventilated terrace.

We will explain below, among other things: 

  • How different types of terraces differ in size and how does this affect the counting how to calculate pedestals for pavers
  • How to properly inventory (measure) a terrace or project at the stage of planning a ventilated terrace
  • How to measure the height of a ventilated terrace and what important elements to pay attention to
  • How many cm to place the adjustable pedestals and what is really responsible for the distance between them
  • How to calculate how many adjustable pedestals  you will need using the table
  • How to calculate how many adjustable pedestals  you will need with our online adjustable pedestals calculator

Types of terraces and how the difference in their size affects how many adjustable pedestals per m2 do you need

Basically, there are two basic types of ventilated terraces - balconies and terraces on the ground / roof terraces.

Ventilated terrace on the balcony

Balcony terraces are a type of terrace that is by definition small. The distances between the wall and the railing are small, which makes it necessary to cut the panels. As a result of the small size of the terrace and the cut tiles, how many adjustable pedestals per m2 will be greater than in the case of a terrace on the ground or a roof terrace.

Ventilated terrace on the ground

Terraces on the ground are usually terraces in the garden on the ground floor. The nature of such a terrace is mainly a recreational space or sometimes in the case of e.g. restaurants, hotels, etc. Terraces on the ground are usually larger in size. Such a terrace is usually designed to accommodate at least a table for the whole family with chairs. A ventilated terrace on the ground, whether in an adapted place or at the design stage, usually has no problems with the existing boundary limitations. On the one hand, it is adjacent to the building wall, and the other edges of the terrace are not limited by the open space.

The above features of a terrace on the ground mean that such a terrace will need fewer adjustable pedestals per m2 than a balcony.

Ventilated terrace on the roof

Buildings constructed today certainly have an additional value, which is the possibility of adapting flat roofs to usable space. Both traditional and inverted roofs can be used as a ventilated terrace.

Roof terraces, as well as terraces on the ground, usually have a larger area, so the number of adjustable pedestals per m2 will be smaller than in the case of a balcony.

How to calculate pedestals for pavers - step 1

Measurement - inventory of terrace dimensions

Regardless of whether it is an adaptation of a terrace in an existing building or a terrace in a newly built facility, it should be carefully measured because the actual as-built dimensions may differ from what was designed.

Dimensions can be made with an ordinary measure and written down manually on a piece of paper or you can print a project of such a terrace and make measurements with a laser meter.

doing measurements for how many adjustable pedestals per m2

How to calculate pedestals for pavers - step 2

Terrace height measurement

Since the technology of ventilated terraces allows you to raise the terrace to any height, we need to determine at the very beginning at what height we want our terrace to be installed. From our experience, usually the key point in relation to which we determine the height of the terrace is the threshold to enter the terrace from inside the building. Even if several entrances / windows lead to the terrace, they should be at the same height.

It should also be considered whether the height of the terrace will provide us with a comfortable entrance to this terrace and whether its height will look favorable from inside the building. A terrace that is at the same height as the floor in the room looks good.

The easiest way to measure the height is with a long spirit level, one edge of which is set at the zero point of our terrace and set horizontally. We will notice that the distance under the spirit level changes. We should measure these heights between the spirit level and the ground. It is best to take measurements at a distance corresponding to the positioning of the adjustable pedestals under the tiles or joists. So if, for example, stoneware tiles 60x60x2 cm are placed on the terrace, the height measurement should be made every 60 cm.

In this particular case, 8 cm, it could be the ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS STANDARD series  for tiles with a height regulation of 7-12 cm (70-120 mm) (i.e. 8 cm height is ok).

What is the spacing of terrace adjustable pedestals? - step 3

At what intervals should the adjustable pedestals be spaced?

We have already measured the dimensions and area of the terrace.

We have already measured the height of the adjustable pedestals we need.

Now we need to answer the question of how many cm such adjustable pedestals will have to be spaced.

TERRACE WITH TILES  - ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS FOR TILES  - WHAT IS THE SPACING OF THE ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS?

Adjustable pedestals for tiles usually supports the tiles in the corners and sometimes (if the tiles manufacturer recommends it) also in the middle under the tile. The tile must not show any tension that are visible to the eye. You can additionally try to jump on such a tile. The tile must not crack under load.

Diagram of a tiles supported at the corners

how many times should I support the tiles on adjustable pedestals

Diagram of the tiles supported in the corners and additionally under the tile in the middle

how to properly support a large terrace tiles
how many ways to properly support terrace tiles on the adjustable pedestals of ventilated terraces

TERRACE FROM BOARDS - ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS UNDER THE JOISTS  - WHAT IS THE SPACING OF THE ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS?

In the case of a terrace made of boards on joists, the adjustable pedestals have two distances between them

The first distance depends on

Distance between the joists  A (that is, every cm, the board is attached to the joist)

The stiffness of the board determines this distance. Ask the manufacturer of the board, every cm recommends support on the joist.

The adjustable pedestals will be placed at the same distance because they are located directly under the joists.

If you want to make sure that the chosen distance is correct, you can support the board at two points and stand on it.

The board should not sag.

This is shown in the photo below.

how many adjustable pedestals per m2 in a wooden terrace

The second distance depends on

B

Distance between the adjustable pedestals along the joist length (that is, how many times the adjustable pedestals is placed under the joist along its length)

This distance is determined by the stiffness of the joist used. Ask the manufacturer of the joists, every cm they recommend to support the joists.

If you want to make sure that the chosen distance between the adjustable pedestals is correct, you can support the joist on the adjustable pedestals  and stand on it.

The joist should not sag.

This is shown in the photo below.

how many adjustable pedestals per m2 should be placed under the joist of the wooden terrace
spacing of adjustable pedestals under the terrace made of boards as much as a adjustable pedestals

CALCULATING HOW MANY ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS NEEDED PER M2 - STEP 4

When the previous steps have been completed, we can start calculating how many cantilever we will need per m2

Download bonus 1

TABLES THAT SHOW HOW TO CALCULATE PEDESTALS FOR PAVERS AND HOW MANY ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS PER M2 YOU NEED DEPENDING ON THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PANELS AND THE SHAPE OF THE TERRACE

Download bonus 2

DOWNLOADABLE TABLE SHOWING HOW TO CALCULATE PEDESTALS FOR PAVERS.

I hope that the above content will be helpful in determining how many adjustable pedestals per m2 are needed and how to determine the required height of adjustable pedestals for a ventilated terrace.

We attach another useful checklist that you can print out and with its help prepare your calculations of how many adjustable pedestals will be needed for the construction of the terrace.

Download bonus 3

CHECKLIST FOR VENTILATED TERRACE

A complete guidebook page to ventilated terraces.

Check out our complete guidebook page to ventilated terrace technology. Everything about the design, montage and application of terraces on adjustable pedestals and support pads in one place.

It is the only such complete page about raised terrace on the Internet.

Check out the guidebook
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