Frequently Asked Questions

The main constraint when building a raised patio is to leave enough space under construction to install all the necessary accessories.

Our advice is to leave a minimum clearance of 3 cm under the patio slab.

NB: If the slab has a slope, use self-levelling pedestals, which will compensate for up to 5%. The same applies if the surface of the slab is uneven.

The advised spacing between your pedestals depends on the flooring you have chosen.

For a paved patio, the spacing between the pedestals (whether self-levelling or not) depends on the size of your tiles. You will need to place at least one pedestal in each corner. So, if your tile measures 60×60 cm, you simply need to place your pedestals every 60 centimetres. For certain tile sizes, such as 90×90 or 120×30, you will also need to add pedestals along the lengths to ensure proper support for the tile. Always refer to your tile manufacturer’s recommendations.

For a wooden or composite patio, we generally recommend a spacing of 70 cm between each pedestal (depending on the type of wood and the joist cross-section). The spacing between the joists will depend on the type of decking: 50 cm between joists for natural wood decking and 40 cm between joists for composite wood decking (check with the manufacturer).

For further info, please feel free to consult our practical guide on how to calculate the number of pedestals. The most reliable approach is to consult your decking’s manufacturer.

For a pedestrian walkway, we recommend choosing gravel with a grain size of 5/15 or 8/16 so that it is dense enough to properly fill the cells of our plates while allowing for water drainage.

We recommend the addition of a 2 cm top layer of 5/15 or 8/16 driveable gravel to ensure that all the cells are completely filled. Once the gravel has been poured into the stabilisation module, it should no longer be possible to see the grid itself.

European timbers, including many softwoods, have the advantage of being generally more affordable than more exotic timbers.

• If the ecological impact of your project is an important factor, you might decide to use a European or even French-grown timber.
• Exotic timbers, on the other hand, are generally more costly, but tend to be more durable.

So it is clear that each species of timber has its own advantages and disadvantages. The best thing to do is speak to your supplier, who will be able to guide you towards the best choice on the basis of your visual, ecological and other preferences.

Jouplast 170mm ridged wedges are designed to wedge and level indoor and outdoor timber structures. They can be used to wedge gaps of up to 40 mm and, thanks their saw-tooth ridging system, ensure perfect stability for joists and similar components. Compatible with flat packers, they are ultra-strong (crush resistance over 2 tonnes) and have moulded holes for easy no-drill fixing.

The Cleman® 130/230 mm pedestal is designed for installation on uneven stabilised ground or an existing concrete slab, including on sites with gradients of up to 5%. Do not use on loose soil or unprepared ground.

The Cleman® patio pedestal must be installed only on stabilised ground or a precast concrete slab. Each riser pedestal must be positioned under the paving in accordance with the recommendations of the paving manufacturer, with at least one pedestal at each corner of each paving slab. Its progress adjustment system provides for height adjustment before, during and after installation.

Profildeck® decking screws are specially designed to fix timber decking boards to Profildeck® system aluminium joists. Their self-tapping design ensures firm fixing with no need for pre-drilling. Manufactured from A4 stainless steel, they deliver excellent levels of weather and corrosion resistance.

Yes, Elevo decking pedestal is height-adjustable. It has an adjustment range of 95mm and a maximum height of 138mm. Where greater height is required, up to 4 Jouplast® 60 mm height extenders can be added.

The 3mm paving spacer is designed to create even spacing between paving slabs as they are laid to guarantee uniform spacing across the terrace and comply fully with all project constraints. Ideal when laying paving slabs, tiles and even timber decking boards.

Yes, Cleman® and Easio® 60mm pedestal height extenders can be stacked. Up to 4 height extenders can be stacked to achieve the required terrace height. You can therefore adjust pedestal heights to suit the needs of your project, without compromising the stability and strength of the overall installation. To ensure installation safety, the recommended maximum number of height extenders that can be stacked is 4.

MODULESCA® 20 cm steps are used to create modular garden steps. Manufactured from glass fibre reinforced polypropylene, they are ultra-strong and rot-proof with a load-bearing capacity of more than 6,000 kg. They are the ideal solution for creating straight and curving garden steps. They can be used to widen existing MODULESCA® module steps or to create new flights of narrow steps.

Jouplast® fork shims are leveling accessories designed to simplify the installation and adjustment of all types of construction projects.

Thanks to their forked shape and flexible inner ridge, they easily snap onto a screw and ensure optimal hold during tightening.

Available in various thicknesses (1, 2, 3, and 5 mm), they can be stacked using their pins, allowing for precise level adjustments and quick setup.

They are extremely durable, do not deform under load, and can withstand pressure exceeding 2 tonnes.

Depending on the nature of your soil and the intended use, there are three types of stabilisation possible:

• Without foundations: this method is possible for covered projects on well-drained or load-bearing soil with sufficient slope. It can be used for temporary projects.
• With minimal foundations : this method is recommended for moderately draining and load-bearing soils.
• Conventional foundations: this method is recommended for low-bearing and impermeable soils.

If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask a specialist for a geological analysis (drainage and load-bearing capacity) of your soil.

No, a composite decking installed on pedestals is not supposed to warp. The quality of the materials is, of course, paramount. Poor-quality products may expand under the effect of heat and contract under the effect of frost. Installation is extremely important and must be carried out properly. The boards must be secured correctly using the manufacturer’s fixing clips and spaced sufficiently apart to ensure the decking is ventilated.

Yes, ground preparation is essential before installing low-profile decking pedestals. Proper ground preparation guarantees the durability of the terrace and prevents the pedestals from moving over time. However, this ground preparation does not require major work.

On a concrete slab, make sure to remove any contamination that could hinder the installation and stability of the pedestals.

On raw ground, some simple earthworks will be necessary. Start by excavating the ground to obtain a flat base and ensure proper levelling. The use of geotextile and the creation of a foundation layer of crushed gravel are then essential to accommodate the low-profile adjustable pedestals in optimal conditions.

For installation on a waterproof surface, comply with the recommendations of DTU 43.1.

Our patio pedestals have a crush resistance of over 1 tonne. However, the weight that a wooden or paved patio can support does not depend solely on the strength of the pedestals.

Each type of flooring has its own load-bearing capacity. We therefore advise you to check with your timber or paver supplier for more precise information.

More generally, if you are planning to place a heavy item on your raised garden terrace, such as a hot tub, we recommend opting for our PROFILDECK® solution (aluminium joists), which will ensure better weight distribution across the structure of the raised patio.

Before buying pedestals, you need to choose the right size! Depending on the range of pedestals you choose, there are several sizes you can use to build your elevated patio.

Our paving pedestals are available in several sizes:

• The Essentiel standard range: adjustable pedestals from 8 to 20 mm, 20 to 30 mm, 20 to 40 mm, 50 to 80 mm, 80 to 140 mm and 140 to 230 mm. You can add Essentiel risers of 10 mm, 25 mm or 60 mm to certain pedestals. With the 140/230 mm pedestal and four 60 mm risers, you can reach a maximum height of 470 mm.
• The Essentiel self-levelling range: adjustable pedestals from 29 to 39 mm, 55 to 75 mm, 65 to 95 mm, 95 to 155 mm and 155 to 245 mm. The 10 mm and 60 mm Essentiel risers are also compatible with some of these pedestal sizes. With the 155/245 mm pedestal and 4 x 60 mm risers, a height of 485 mm can be achieved.
• The Cleman® standard range: adjustable pedestals from 28 to 40 mm, 40 to 55 mm, 55 to 80 mm, and 80 to 130 mm. All these pedestal sizes are compatible with the 60 mm Cleman® riser. By using 4 risers together with the largest pedestal, you can achieve a maximum height of 470 mm.
• The Cleman® self-levelling range: adjustable pedestals from 40 to 55 mm, 55 to 80 mm, 80 to 130 mm and 130 to 230 mm. Just like the standard Cleman pedestal, all sizes of the Cleman self-levelling pedestal are compatible with the 60 mm Cleman riser. By adding 4 risers to the largest pedestal size, you can achieve a height of up to 470 mm for your patio.
• The PLOGOM® : the Plogom® pedestal is only available in a single size of 10 mm.

Our decking pedestals also come in several sizes:

• Essentiel standard joist pedestal support: adjustable from 8 to 20 mm (the smallest joist pedestal on the market), 20 to 30 mm, 20 to 40 mm, 40 to 60 mm, 50 to 80 mm, 80 to 140 mm and 140 to 230 mm. Some of these pedestals are compatible with the 10 mm and 60 mm Essentiel risers. By adding 4 risers to the largest pedestal, you can achieve a maximum height of 470 mm for your timber or composite decking.
• Easio® pedestals: adjustable pedestals from 40 to 55 mm, 55 to 80 mm, 80 to 130 mm and 130 to 230 mm. These different pedestal sizes are all compatible with the 60 mm Easio® riser. By choosing the 130/230 mm pedestal and adding 4 risers, you can then build a 470 mm decking (excluding joists and decking boards).
• Elevo® pedestal: available in a single model, height-adjustable from 43 to 138 mm. This pedestal is also compatible with the 10 mm and 60 mm Essentiel risers.

For the use of our Alveplac® stabilizing plate, you do not need to purchase a geotextile as it is directly integrated into the product through an injection welding process. This ensures that the gravel stays in place and prevents the growth of weeds brought by birds.