S To Prepare The Ground And Install Your Paver Patio
- Tamara Thiel
For anyone thinking about upgrading their outdoor living space, a paver patio is an absolute must. These versatile patios add depth to your home, as well as style and creative design. It pushes the property value exponentially, increases the area for entertaining and adds character to your home.
If you are wondering how difficult it is to install a paver patio yourself, we have the steps right here for you.
How Can You Get The Best Prices On Pavers
The best prices on pavers come from shopping around. To get the best price compare these three sources:
- Landscaper price: These pros usually get a discount when they buy, which means it could be more cost-effective to use a landscaping company use for your project.
- Local building supply store: Youll often pay the most here but check to see if there is overstock or good deals on bulk purchases.
- Factory direct: If you have a local brickyard or concrete paver factory, get a price for buying directly from them.
What Is The Glass Door With Pre
Another option is to replace the entire door unit with a new unit that has a dog door already installed in the glass. This is a good option for those that have an older door that may need replacing, but there is a lot of work, time, and cost associated with replacing an entire door unit.
To replace an existing glass door with a new glass door you must:
- Remove the surrounding outside siding
- Remove the inside trim
- Remove the old door without damaging the door frame
- Replace with a new heavy door
- Level and shim the new door
- Secure the new door in place with nail gun
- Properly insulate the new construction
- Reinstall the outside siding
- Reinstall inside trim
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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.
Save Money With A Diy Paver Patio
Dont dismiss those concrete pavers you see at most home improvement stores. Sure, theyre inexpensive, but they dont have to look like you couldnt spare the change for stone. Its all in how you put them together. By using a simple pattern, we created a sophisticated look and saved some serious cash to boot. Would you believe the patio installation was only around $650? Doing the work yourself will save a bundle. Heres how we installed the patio in the photo above.
Tools for installing a paver patio
- Measuring tape
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Preparing The Site Is The First Step To Success
A lot of patio projects start out with nothing but an empty piece of land, usually with some less than beautiful grass growing on it. Preparing the site is the first step. Its a very important process that ensures a good foundation on which to build the paver patio of your dreams. This applies to other similar types of landscaping projects as well. to get rid of the weeds, if any, you can use a combination of landscaping fabric, sand, and small rocks or gravel. You can also spray a combination of vinegar and hot water on the more stubborn ones if need be. Check out more useful tips about DIY paver patio covers and other projects on hometalk.
Build A Patio From Scratch
The finished project only shows a small portion of what the patio is actually made of. The brick or pavers that you see are only added at the very end and theres actually the least important part of the project. The base beneath is pretty complex and its important to have a basic understanding of all the layers and the prep work that go into it in order for this to be a successful project. Check out this video on to learn from professionals how to build a patio from scratch.
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How To Install Patio Pavers And A Fire Pit What Size
Before we dive into the supply list, lets talk about size: You will need to decide the size of your patio. We will work off a 10 foot by 10 foot example just for mathematical ease. Ours is actually larger, but this will give you an easier idea as to what you would need.
First we need to find the square footage of the patio. As a quick Jr. high math reminder the formula for square feet is: length × width. Since we know that our example patio is 10 x 10, the square feet for our patio is 100 square feet.
One more math lesson that we will need in a minute: How do you get cubic feet? = × . Youre welcome. }
Roll Out Landscape Fabric
- Add a layer of landscape fabric over the tamped soil.
- Note: The purpose of the landscape fabric is to prevent the sand from mixing in with the soil. But its important to use a non-woven fabric, as woven landscape fabric isnt very permeable and can trap water under your patio. Look for fabric with at least a 20-year life span.
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Manufactured Concrete Cobbles That Come In Mats
Paver patios are definitely practical but laying each paver by hand, one by one gets really annoying quickly. You can make things easier by opting for the more time-saving and practical alternative: manufactured concrete cobbles that come in the form of mats, very much like mosaic backsplash tiles. Theyre super easy to install. Once youve arranged all the mats and filled all the gaps, you just pour grout over everything and you spread it evenly. Youll probably need a few more details so be sure to check out thisoldhouse.
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 To Install A Custom Paver Patio
To kick off the second day of Backyard Week, Im bringing you everything you need to know about installing a paver patio the good, the bad- and the ugly. Trust me when I say you can save a TON of money by doing this yourself. Its an easy project once youre prepped and ready. Click through for a detailed tutorial
Ill preface this post by saying this project is a lot of work, but its not difficult work. Id also recommend tackling this in cooler temperatures or of an evening. We basically worked through 100+ degree weather and it was a bit miserable at times. So why would anyone want to attempt a DIY paver patio? You could save an upwards of $10,000 $30,000 depending on the size. Im not even joking. I tried to hire certain things out and it just wasnt in the cards for our timeline or budget.
Paver patios look amazing and are super functional for seating, entertaining, and hanging out in the yard. Heres everything youll need to get started. Hover over the images for the specific product links
Next, mark the size and begin to dig out the area. We marked the area using 2 x 4 boards, but you can also use chalk or paint. Depending on the height of your pavers, youll want to dig 3-5 inches deep. Basically the end goal is for the pavers to sit flush with the grass / ground.
Step 5 // Add the paver sand and level. Next, add multiple bags of paver sand, raking it out as you go. Youll want to add as many bags as it takes for the surface to be level.
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Lay The Base Material
When you are sure that the ground is level and ready for use, itâs time to lay the base materials. Depending on the ground in the area, you may want to first put down landscaping material.
Your base materials consist of crushed rock or lime-rock gravel. The idea behind this is to make the ground as firm and compact as possible. This secures your paver patio and increases its longevity.
If you find that crushed rock or lime-rock gravel doesnât work, you can use gravel with some moisture in it.
Spread your base layer evenly, and then use a plate compactor to make sure it is firm. If you are struggling with this step, you can always call a patio paver contractor like Seattle Outdoor Spaces. It is vital to do this properly, as this forms the base of your patio paver.
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Can I Cut A Glass Panel To Install A Dog Door
It is not recommended that you cut into a glass panel because it will most likely cause the glass to crack or shatter. Cutting into double-paned glass is especially difficult, and most glass sliding doors are double- paned. Professionals should be hired if this job needs to be done because they have special tools and training allowing them a greater chance of success.
Clear Out Grass And Soil
To get started, mark the perimeter of the patio area with marking paint. Drive garden stakes into the ground just outside the perimeter markings and attach a mason’s line.
When figuring out how high to make the patio, work from the house outward. The pavers should slope away from the house with a drop-off of about 1 inch every 8 feet, so water can drain away. Mark the height on the stakes and adjust the mason’s line.
Use a spadeand shovel to clear grass and dirt from the work area. Check the depth and slope against the mason’s line and the measuring tape to make sure you maintain both the proper depth and slope.
Tip: Before you dig, remember that you will be adding 4 inches of gravel base and about 1 inch of paver sand before you add the DIY patio pavers.
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Excavate The Patio Area
You will need to determine the final height of the patio. Start by finding the thickness of the paver, then add 1 for a layer of sand and 4 for a layer of gravel.
Its often a good idea to elevate the patio slightly above the ground so that water can run off. Use the mason string from the layout to determine the depth of soil to remove. Dig the area using a shovel, then tamp to compact the soil.
Your patio area should be about 6-7 deep, depending on your pavers thickness.
Brick Fireplace In Outdoor Seating Area
Comfortable outdoor lounge furniture surrounds this brick fireplace. The four wood chairs and two wood ottomans are each covered with chocolate brown fitted cushions.
And ways you might be able to save some money:
- Location, Location, Location: Be aware that if youre installing further from your home, it could cost more to run gas and electric to the patio. Also, level ground close to the exterior of your home is inevitably easier to install upon, versus a hillside requiring retaining wall features. And if youre competing with a backyard septic system or existing mature trees, try to work around them to avoid the process of having to move/remove.
- Buy things yourself: Lets assume that your contractor is cool with you sourcing some of your own materials visit a local stone yard to research your options, and purchase materials yourself to avoid a mark-up. You may find extra savings by negotiating a bulk order, or by purchasing materials in the off-season. Try to avoid multiple deliveries, as charges are often quoted as a flat rate for each trip.
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Grade The Slope For Excavation
The patio must slope away from the house or other structure to direct runoff away from the foundation. Grade the slope about 1/8 inch per foot. Keep track by running a mason’s line at the proper slope and measuring down from it as you dig. You have to dig deep enough to remove the dark topsoil layerhow deep depends on the soil conditions in your area. But you must go down at least 6 inches to accommodate the base.
To create a graded line, set stakes a few feet deep at what will be the high and low corners of one side. Moving a level along it as a guide, run a level mason’s line between the two stakes about ½ foot above the ground. Multiply the length of the side in feet by 1/8 inch. Move the line on the low-side stake down by that amount. For example, if the side is 5 feet long, lower the string 5/8 inch.
Set two stakes on the opposite side of the patio. Using a level, transfer the height of the line from the top and bottom across, then connect the sloped line on the other side at the same height as the lengthwise lines.
How To Install A Paver Patio In 6 Easy Steps
Paver patios are a beautiful alternative to a concrete patio or a deck. They are popular, attractive, affordable, durable, and require low maintenance.
Although it requires some hard work, a paver patio is easy to install, and you can usually complete the project over a weekend. You can install pavers on a patio, driveway, walkway, or porch.
Prepare for your patio installation using our installation guide below. The average cost to have a paver patio installed is $8 $20 per square foot. You can save some money by doing the expensive work yourself.
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Screed Sand Base Layer
Lay the scrap two-by-four across the tops of the PVC pipes, then screed it toward you in a gentle raking motion. The sand will move to the side and over the top of the screed board. Continue moving the PVC pipes and screeding until the entire area is finished. Finish by tamping down the sand, working backward so that you cover up your footprints.
Add Sand To The Joints
At this point, your pavers should be set, and the patio should look beautiful. It is essential to add a layer of polymeric paver sand in the joints.
This locks the pavers together so they dont move and prevents weed growth. Sweep the sand into the joints and remove any excess.
After youve applied the sand, use a hose and garden nozzle to wash the surface. This cleans the pavers and starts a chemical reaction in the polymeric sand, causing it to fuse together.
Our polymeric sand calculator will provide an estimate for how much of this you need to finish the patio.
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Before Starting This Project
This project will show you how to install a patio door with nailing fin. The exterior vinyl cladding around the door frame has to be removed before the door can be installed so the new door frame can be screwed into a strip and secured directly to the structure of the house. Install flashing and you will waterproof the opening of your new sliding patio door.
Note: waterproofing and finishing a finless patio door is different.
Always follow the manufacturers instructions for installing an exterior door.
What Youll Learn In This Free 45
Paving stones create a beautiful atmosphere just about anywhere. They are a stunning, low-maintenance alternative to wood decks, slab patios, concrete walkways, and more. However, when you think about starting a hardscape project or trying to install patio pavers yourself, it can feel intimidating.
Before installing patio pavers, youll want to get clear on what hardscape is and what its used for. Additionally, youll want to understand the common mistakes to avoid and avoid them whenever possible.
In this free video, we share it all, breaking down the process into 10-steps anyone can follow.
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Diy Paver Patio Project On A Budget
Regardless of your garden makeover budget, we still believe adding a paver patio is achievable for anyone. While we know it will take a good amount of time and effort to create a larger paver patio, it still doesnt have to break the bank. We always recommend trying to take the project at a leisurely pace, and youll enjoy the process far more than trying to get it done in a rush. Plan your paver patio out a few months before you hope to use it, and it will be ready well in time for your summer gatherings this year. Gardening Channel reminds you to always consider any plumbing and electric lines in your yard before you start digging up the ground. That would certainly be a costly mistake!