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HomeBuildHow To Put In A Paver Stone Patio

How To Put In A Paver Stone Patio

How To Excavate For A Patio

How To Design and Install A Paver Patio

Before excavating, you can use spray paint to mark the areas that need to be dug. Make sure you make plans for water efficient landscaping and proper draining so that the pavers dont hold water under them. Also take note of whether there are any underground cables or plumbing so that they can avoided while digging.

Laying A Shallow Base

The second most common mistake is not digging a deep enough area for the base. When you read our recommendations for laying a base, you may think to yourself, Thats a lot of digging! The truth is, yes, it certainly is. However, gravel is cheap insurance to protect and preserve your pavers.

We recommend that you excavate enough dirt to lay a proper gravel base 4 for common foot traffic areas and 610 for driveways and residential parking lots. The general rule is to add an extra 24 to your gravel base if you live in colder climates with continually wet or weak soils.

Of : Excavating And Leveling Your Yard

  • 1Contact your local utility company at least 2 days prior to digging. To ensure you dont hit a buried utility line, get in touch with your local utility company. Call them at least 2 days before starting your project and ask them to locate and mark buried lines on your property. This service is free and can prevent accidents and power outages.
  • In the U.S., call the digline at 811. Theyll talk you through the steps you need to take to dig safely and even contact the correct utility company to mark buried lines on your property.
  • If past residents have have made adjustments or additions to the utilities, you may need to contact a landscaping or excavating service to help you find each point of service.
  • 2Dig out the patio area to a depth of 6 in . This will leave just the right amount of space for both the paver stones and the underlying substrate. You can take care of most of the removal using a single shovel. A hand trowel will also be useful for keeping the edges of the site clean and precise.XResearch source
  • You can use a tiller to break up the soil first and make it easier to hand shovel the required depth and remove by wheel barrow. Large areas may require a skid steer or mini-excavator or tractor with a backhoe and front bucket attachment.
  • When its complete, your paver patio should sit at or slightly above ground level.XResearch source
  • Ensure the slope angles away from the patio and add drainage if necessary.
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    Measure Slope To Allow For Patio Drainage

    So that your concrete paver patio drains away from your house, youll need to account for the slope of the space.

    If your patio is on a hill or against a retaining wall, for instance, you will slope in two directions: away from the house and also away from the wall or the hill.

    The angle of slope that allows for proper drainage for your patio is 1 per every 4 feet. For instance, my patio was 9 deep, so I created a slope of 2¼.

    The way to mark the slope is to start at stakes that will be your low end. Take the strings youve tied onto those stakes and lower them by the number of inches required to meet the correct slope for your patio base on its depth.

    Next, use a marker to mark a line where you pulled the strings to .


    The new string locations now mark the height of the 4 base layer with the slope included.

    I also found it helpful to mark the top of where the paver will be. Its important to note that depending on what your top base layer is made of, it may not actually add any height to your total.

    The paver dust I had compacted down to maybe about ¼. You may want to test yours to see because if yours doesnt compact like that, you may want to add it into your calculations.

    If you are using the same pavers I used, these are just over 1½ thick. If your paver dust/sand compacts to almost nothing, you will want to make your last mark 1½ above the base layer mark just made.

    How To Install A Paver Patio

    Easier Paver Patio Base That Will Save Your Back

    Is a paver patio one of those ideas you are considering to spruce up the rear yard? If so, not only do you need to know how to install a paver patio, but there are a few other items you need to know. Pavers are available in a wide range of shapes, styles, sizes and color blends. Depending on the sizes you choose for your paver patio, there are large variety of patterns you can lay them in herringbone pattern, running bond pattern, basket weave pattern, etc. View these and more paver patterns.How much does a paver patio cost? If you contract a professional paver installer, you should plan on spending $15 – $20 per square foot, depending on paver type and where you live. This would include all materials and labor. If you are thinking of installing your paver patio yourself, you could expect to save approximately 50%.Now that you have some basic information, let’s learn how to install a paver patio. Note: If you are have an existing concrete patio you may want to read our step-by-step instructions on “How to Install Pavers Over Your Existing Concrete Patio”.


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    S On How To Compact Pavers Without A Plate Compactor

    Whether you are making pavers, patio or laying a new driveway, youll need a compacted base that is fit for building a road over it. Remember, when the ground is not compacted enough, itll end up developing cracks over the pavers or in your patios walls. Follow these steps and pack pavers without a plate compactor

    How To Lay A Concrete Paver Patio Or Walkway: A Lifetime Of Expert Tips & Shortcuts Shared In 2 Short Days

    So you just installed a paver patio. Stand back and admire your work. It probably looks pretty decent right now.

    But wait a few months. Or a year. Let one good winter pass. Now how does it look?

    What Can Go Wrong When You Don’t Know What You’re Doing


    “A lot of pavers look good when they first go in,” said Alex Burke, instructor in Rutgers’ Concrete Pavers class. But when an installer doesn’t really know what he is doing, the ill effects will show within a year.

    “After you’ve gone through the winter and had time for settling, that’s when you start to see problems,” explained Burke. “It might be frost heaving, settling or problems caused by difficult site conditions, like clay soil.”

    Frost heaving a situation in which moisture in the ground below the pavers freezes, expands and causes the soil around it to bulge results in paver bricks pushing up out of place. It’s not only an eye-sore, but a potential tripping hazard. Avoiding this and other problems starts with the base.

    “The area where you need to put in the most effort,” said Burke, “is the base prep.”

    Alex Burke should know. When it comes to installing concrete pavers from walkways to patios to driveways to edging he’s an expert. With almost two decades of experience as the owner of Burke Environmental, Inc., a landscape design, construction and nursery company, Burke has overseen the installation of nearly 500 paver projects.


    Burke’s Top Tip for Success

    Burke’s 4 Tips for Successful Concrete Paver Installation

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    Add Water To Polymeric Sand

    Before adding water, it is critical that you remove all polymeric sand from the top of the pavers. If not, the sand will bond to the paver faces, marring them. Running a leaf blower is the best way to blow off sand without removing sand from the gaps.

    Set your spray nozzle on a light mist and spray your patio paver. Do not drench it with too much water otherwise, you run the risk of dislodging sand from the gaps.


    Overhead Costs To Build A Paver Patio

    How to Lay a Paver Patio (Like a Pro!)

    Licensed and insured contractors add overhead and profit in their bid, which typically adds 10% to 20% to the total cost depending on the size of the project. This covers insurance, staffing and payroll, truck expenses, licensing fees, warranties on your project, and more.

    You could save on this expense by hiring an unlicensed handyman, but they may not be experienced or use the best materials.

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    How To Build A Patio: A Diy Stone Paver Patio Tutorial

    Recently I posted before and after images of our new stone paver patio and today Im sharing the tutorial in case youre inspired to spruce up your outdoor space too! Keep reading to check out my full step-by-step photo tutorial, as well as a fun time-lapse video of the whole process.

    Want The Look And Feel Of Natural Stone Without The Maintenance

    An Allan Block raised patio may be just what your project needs. You can incorporate curves , corners or even stairs into your patio design. Building a raised patio is easy and can add more usable living space and lasting value to your landscape.


    Place the blocks on the base material near the front of the trench

    Fill the hollow cores and 12 in. behind the block with wall rock up to the height of the block

    Use a compactable rock or sand behind the entire wall. This provides a fill that is less likely to settle over time

    Allan Blocks raised front lip provides a perfect edge for AB capstones, or pavers

    Choose a flooring option like concrete, pavers, brick or natural stones to fit the design and style of your landscape

    Once you have determined the location and design of your raised patio, stake out the location and use a string line or paint to mark out the area. A garden hose is an excellent tool for marking out curves. Then excavate the area by removing all the surface vegetation and organic materials from the area. These cannot be used as backfill material.

    • Starting at the lowest point dig a base trench 24 in. wide by 6 in. deep plus 1 in deep for each 1 ft. of wall height.
    • Compact the base trench as well as the entire patio base area, making a minimum of 2 passes with a walk behind plate compactor. Compaction of these areas are very important as they make up the foundation of both your wall and raised patio.

    Excerpt from Landscape Newsletter Issue #19

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    How To Decorate A Concrete Patio

    Add a small fountain in the center of your concrete path. 5. If money is not a big issue, you can put a jacuzzi on your patio. 10. Idea for a bamboo terrace for outdoor dining. 9. Paint the concrete deck. 8. Build a pergola. 7. Wrap the pergola with a climbing frame 6. Prepare it for the new social space 5. Paint it 4. Cover it with a platform 3.

    How To Install A Paver Patio On Uneven Grounds

    How to Install a Flagstone Paver Patio

    Homeowners enjoy the great look that patio paving provides for their lawn. It creates a narrow path, and people want to see what the result may be. But uneven ground can derail the paving effort right from the start. Use a few simple tactics to lay down the patio paving stones on that uneven ground. That will explain how patio paving can take place on the lawn as well. The patio paving stones can then be laid in to place without any hassle. Uneven ground can be managed in a short amount of time. There are unique advantages people will want to consider.

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    How To Harden Sand Between Pavers

    Whats the best solution when the question is: -how do you harden sand between pavers?

    Regular sand, on its own, despite serving this purpose very well, doesnt harden enough. The material does fill gaps between pavers and help lock the individual blocks in place quite well, so they dont shift. But, regular sand tends to become soft when wet.

    However, when sealing the pavers surface, the substance also comes into contact with the sand. When this meeting occurs, it causes the two materials to form an alloy, similar to mortar. Thus, effectively hardening the sand and helping to fix it.

    If possible, use irregular, sharp-grained sand, as they have sharp edges and bind together better.

    Add Sand Between Pavers

    Finally, you need to fill in the gaps between your patio stones. Simply pour a pile of polymeric sand onto your pavers and sweep it into the cracks. You may not know how much sand youll need to fill in all the cracks, so add small piles of sand as you go to prevent a big cleanup afterward. Unless you have a lot of leftover sand, you can simply sweep the remainder onto your lawn.

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    How Do You Fill Cracks Between Patio Stones

    Crackspaverscracks between paverscracksfilledcracksfilledgaps

    Refill the joints between block pavers with jointing sand any existing sand is likely to have washed away during cleaning. Brush a thin layer of jointing sand over the whole area and sweep into the joints. Work the broom back and forth to fill all joints.

    how do you kill weeds between patio stones? Bring a solution of about 1 cup salt in 2 cups water to a boil. Pour directly on the weeds to kill them. Another equally effective method of how to kill weeds is to spread salt directly onto the weeds or unwanted grass that come up between patio bricks or blocks.

    Moreover, what do I use in between paving slabs?

    If the slabs are bedded on concrete or cement-based mortar, youll have more of a chance with pointing or grouting. The same principles apply as before the mortar should be softer than the paving slabs. Try a 6:1:1 mix of sharp sand, cement, and hydrated lime.

    Does water drain through polymeric sand?

    Polymeric sand, if installed properly, will harden to lock you pavers in place and create a more effective weed and insect deterent while still allowing water to drain freely.

    Backyard Low Budget Pavers

    How To Lay a Paver Patio the Easy Way – Build With Roman

    How to decorate a small backyard with cheap patio pavers? Cobbled patios and stone slab seating walls are the best match for inexpensive patio paving ideas. 3. Circle of cheap blue pavers for the porch. A circle of blue stone paving is certainly an inexpensive way to decorate your small yard. 4. Affordable cover for patios and gazebos. The pergola is your best option if you are looking for inexpensive patio paving ideas.

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    Working With Polymeric Sand

    Pavers are the do-it-yourself patio paving solution that nearly any do-it-yourselfer can handle. But how do you manage the seams between the pavers? Dirt or loose-fill gravel is quickly infested with weeds. Exterior stone mortar effectively blocks those gaps but can be difficult for an amateur mason to apply properly. Polymeric sand is the seam-filler between the pavers that pours like sand but solidifies like mortar.

    The concept behind polymeric sand is that you will install the pavers on a sand and gravel base, then sweep the polymeric sand across the top to force the sand into the seams. All polymeric sand must be removed from the paver surface before wetting the pavers with water. The water reacts with the polymeric sand, forming a tight, cohesive mortar-like joint.

    Polymeric sand can be tricky to work with. If you get one step of the process wrong , you risk marring the pavers. But if you get it right, polymeric sand is a joint filler that will last for years to come, with little maintenance and few worries.

    Prep And Clean The Space Properly

    This is incredibly important to ensure the grouting/paving sand lasts longer. The more dirt you can remove before you begin, the better your results will be.

    First, use a trowel to clean out all the gaps between your slabs, being sure to clear out all weeds and rubbish. Then, brush whole area clear with a yard brush.

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    Do It Yourself Patio Paver Kits

    Paver patio kits cost $300 to $1,000 on average and come with instructions, layout templates, and precut pavers to construct a patio, fire pit area, or bar/kitchen area. Paver kits are more expensive than buying everything individually, and base materials are not included.

    Another option is to forego buying pavers altogether and pour concrete into a patterned paver mold. Paver molds cost $15 to $100 each, depending on the size.

    Lay Paver Base Material

    How to Install A Custom Paver Patio

    Before laying your patio pavers, you need to prepare the ground and make sure the area is level. Pour enough gravel to cover the entire patio space, about 2-3 inches thick. Drag the framing stud or a 2×4 over the gravel to create a flat, smooth layer. Keep your bubble level out to make sure the slope is even across the entire surface.

    Once youve laid the gravel, place your 1-inch PVC pipe along the edge of the patio area to prepare for the sand. This pipe will be your guide to make sure the layer is the appropriate thickness. Pour the sand, being careful not to ruin the level of the gravel in the process. Then use the 2×4 again to create a smooth, even surface, using the PVC pipe to ensure a consistent, flat layer.

    Paver Base Alternative: Paver Mats/Panels

    If you dont want to use gravel, you might be wondering what else to put under your pavers. A more modern option is a paver mat, also known as paver panels. Distributing the weight on the patio, these panels are easier to install than gravel while performing the same function. While the installation of each paver mat may differ slightly, most will only require a layer of sand underneath.

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