Frequently Asked Questions

We generally recommend a distance of 70 cm between each adjustable pedestal (depending on the type of wood and the cross-section of the joists). For joists, we recommend a centre-to-centre distance of 50 cm if your decking is made of natural wood boards. Please note that the rules are not the same for composite decking.

Our self-levelling pedestals are available exclusively for the slab and timber decking patios.

Yes, Jouplast’s low-profile pedestals, such as the 8 to 20 mm adjustable models, are particularly suitable for small spaces such as balconies and patios. These pedestals are designed for very low installation heights, making them ideal for areas where height is limited.

They are quick and easy to install, even on existing surfaces such as tiles or concrete slabs, while ensuring optimal stability and durability.

What’s more, their millimetre-precise adjustment ensures a perfect fit for your space, facilitating the transition between indoors and outdoors.

Before you start building your patio, it is important to check that you have the necessary permits.

If you own the property, that your patio is less than 20m² and is not raised, or only slightly raised, you will usually not need a planning application. However, for a terrace larger than 20m² or raised (generally from 40cm upwards), an authorization will be required (depending on your circumstances).

For additional information, we advise you to contact your local council directly.

If you are a leaseholder, do not forget to seek permission from your property manager.

Here are the steps to follow to estimate the number of pedestals you will need to build your wooden or composite decking.

First, measure the area of your decking and draw up your installation plan, considering the recommended spacing for your flooring material.

To know the recommended spacing between each pedestal, please refer to the relevant installation guide, available on the product page for the decking pedestal you are using, and the advice from your wood manufacturer.

To calculate the number of pedestals:

• Divide the length of the deck by the recommended spacing between two pedestals, then do the same with the width.
• Multiply the two results to obtain the total number of pedestals required.
• Remember to add extra pedestals for edges, corners or specific cuts.
• Always round up to the nearest whole number for optimum stability and keep a few spares in reserve.

For further details, please refer to our practical guide to calculating decking pedestals.

To ensure optimal stabilisation of your paving stones, the bedding (or sub-base) must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Allow for drainage of rainwater and runoff. Example: your soil can be considered well-drained if there is never any standing water after heavy rain. If this is not the case, it is recommended that you drain the surface either by installing drains in the ground or by creating a drainage layer with 40/80 crushed stone.
• Not be subject to rising groundwater. Example: your ground is subject to rising groundwater if, after a long period of rain, it becomes damp and unstable.
• Have sufficient load-bearing capacity for the intended use (pedestrian or vehicle traffic). Example: a site can be considered stabilised when it has been driven on for several years. In the case of a new house, it is advisable to check the condition of the ground with the earthworks company.
• Have no unevenness greater than 1 cm over 3 m.

If in doubt, it is best to check with an earthworks company.

Installation on slopes up to 10% is possible. The installation must be carried out against a concrete kerb at the bottom.

Before installing our stabilisation slab for paving stones, it is important and mandatory to prepare the ground according to the intended use.

For a pedestrian walkway :

1. Dig out 10 cm of soil.
2. Compact the surface using a lawn roller to optimise the levelling of the ground. If there are any large stones remaining, remove them by hand.
3. Unroll a 120g/m² geotextile. For perfect coverage, overlap the geotextile strips by 10 cm.

For a driveway :

1. Dig out the soil to a depth of 20 to 30 cm.
2. Compact using a vibrating plate to ensure the ground is level.
3. Unroll a first 120g/m² geotextile. For perfect coverage, overlap the geotextile strips by 10 cm.
4. Create a 10 to 20 cm foundation layer consisting of a mixture of 70% 30/60 gravel and 30% sand.
5. Compact using a vibrating plate.
6. Roll out another 120g/m² geotextile.

It is possible to stack up to 4 extensions under your pedestal. Please ensure that you do not exceed this number in order to avoid compromising the stability of your installation.

Jouplast® snappable 5mm flat packers are useful for a broad range of indoor and outdoor joinery projects: packing all types of timber flooring from decking to boarded floors, fitting and adjusting joinery (doors, windows, cladding, panelling, furniture), fitting and adjusting joinery (doors, windows, cladding, panelling, furniture, etc.), correcting  surface unevenness, optimal spacing and ventilation of timber structures, etc. Their great strength and modular design make these packers the ideal solution for all construction projects requiring precise spacing and packing.

The Essentiel® pedestal side cladding support is a quick, easy and ideal solution for applying the finishing touches to your terrace by creating a neat side finish. A 100% invisible solution that uses an innovative glue trap system to create a clean and attractive appearance. UV and frost-resistant, it is perfect for outdoor use. Its snappable tab enables fixing of all paving thicknesses and facilitates the installation of a vertical joists for timber decking.

The Cleman® 80/130 mm pedestal can be used on stabilised uneven ground or an existing concrete slab. It is not recommended for use on loose ground.

The Cleman® adjustable 28/40 paving pedestal is designed for tiled, ceramic or paved terraces for pedestrian use. It ensures precise levelling using a three-stage adjustment system: pre-setting using the driver bit, manual setting using the screw adjuster, and final adjustment using the special adjustment wrench. This pedestal ensures structural stability, is easy to install and offers optimised terrace side cladding. The paving used must be self-supporting and compliant with French classification T7, T11, or F+. Not compatible with the paved side finishing plate.

Jouplast® forked packers are designed to facilitate installation and adjustment for all types of construction where packing is required. The forked shape and soft inner teeth make them easy to clip onto a screw for optimum grip when tightening. Available in several thicknesses (1, 2, 3 and 5 mm) and stackable thanks to moulded integral lugs, they facilitate precise setting of levels and rapid adjustment. Ultra-strong, they do not deform under stress and offer crush resistance over 2 tonnes.

Yes, up to 4 joist support pads can be stacked to adjust the packing height to suit the specific needs of the project. Stacking makes it possible to compensate for ground irregularities and maintain optimum stability.

Use one 3mm intersection spacer at each corner of every paving slab to ensure even spacing. The tabs and baseplate are snappable, and can therefore be removed to cope with different configurations, particularly where paving meets walls or is laid in an offset pattern. No adhesives or fixings are required: the weight of the paving is sufficient to hold the installation firmly in place.

The hexagonal bit is compatible with everyday 10 mm tools, such as an open pipe wrench, a ratchet socket wrench or T-handle socket wrench. For more precise presetting the riser pedestal heights, it can be used with an electric screwdriver (with chuck). We do not recommend using it with a combi drill.

All our grids are strong enough to cope with the load imposed by reasonable traffic volumes. Alveplac® and Greenplac® have a maximum load bearing capacity of 600 tonnes/m2 when filled with gravel or grass.

The use of a gravel stabiliser is essential to prevent ruts from forming, which can be seen when vehicles repeatedly drive past a garage, for example.

Although we can tell you the approximate number of joists you will need per m2 based on your choice of terrace surface, it is not possible to quantify the precise number of aluminium joists required, except on a project-by-project basis. Nevertheless, we can say with certainty that :

• For a private garden terrace using H/55mm joists, the recommended centreline spacing distance between pedestals is 80cm
• Using H/27mm joists, the recommended centreline spacing distance between pedestals is 50cm

Centreline spacing is the distance between joists. For a precise calculation, you can send us the details of your project, but you will soon be able to make the same calculation using the Jouplast® app.

All our self-levelling patio pedestals can support up to 1 tonne per pedestal. Can you imagine? One tonne is the equivalent of a giraffe.

We offer 2 types of edging finishes for paved patios. You can either choose an edge finish with cut tiles, using our side finishing plate and lateral riser support, or our clip-on finishing profiles.

The first option has the same finish as the rest of the patio cladding. However, it requires the right equipment to cut the slabs. A good water jet saw is essential. The task can be tricky when temperatures are below freezing, whereas installing a paved patio on pedestals is perfectly possible in freezing weather. You also need to be very precise to ensure the accuracy of the cuts.

The second option, using the clip-on side finishing profiles, has the advantage of being aesthetically pleasing, practical, and does not require tile cutting nor special tools. It is easy to install.

As for raised decking, it is possible to create the side finish using only our lateral riser support.