Tuesday, March 26, 2024
HomeBuildHow To Lay Patio Stones On Concrete

How To Lay Patio Stones On Concrete

Step 1: Gather All Tools And Materials Needed

To get this project done, we used the following materials:

  • we used basic $1 concrete pavers from Lowes
  • we used plastic paver spikes as spacers, and then reused them for our paver edging when we were finished
  • Paver edging this holds pavers in place and prevents them from shifting
  • to prevent weeds from growing through cracks after pavers are installed
  • Leveling paver sand this helps level any surface unevenness under the pavers
  • Polymeric sand a special kind of sand that helps adheres sand in place
  • A broom to spread polymeric sand after pavers are in place
  • A circular saw for making straight paver cuts
  • A grinder for making curved paver cuts
  • Water
  • Proper Drainage Of The Site

    Make sure your concrete foundation is properly sloped and doesnt accumulate surface water. Laying pavers over this material may pose problems to the drainage as concrete slabs have the inability to drain water through the blocks and into the earth. Follow the concretes slope when installing the pavers and make sure the edge that drains water stays low and permeable. A trick you can do is drilling small holes through the concrete every few inches to help eliminate puddling.


    The importance of the choice of materials is extremely important. Choose permeable pavers if your surface needs adequate drainage. You have to select materials according to functionality and not just style.

    Laying Stone Patio Overview

    Sketch out the project on graph paper first to minimize cuts, stagger the joints, and estimate how much amterial you’ll need. Bluestone comes in rectangles and squaresfrom 1- to 4-foot-square peices., in 6-inch increments. One ton of stone dust, for a 1-inch setting bed, will cover about 200 square feet. A ton of pack laid at 3-inches will cover 75 sqaure feet.

    Align delivered stone near the side where you will finish the patio so you don’t have to retrieve materials over just laid stones.


    Rent a skid-steer loader to clear away debris and dig the patio base.

    Locate and mark any in-ground gas, electric, water or phone lines by spray-painting the ground.

    If you live where the ground freezes or drains poorly, dig down at least 12 inches to save your new patio from being heaved by frost. Those living in mild climates where the soil is sandy and drains well should excavate down to 6 inches.

    Step 2

    Drive 3-foot stakes into the ground 1 foot outside the corners of the patio area.

    Set a builder’s level in the middle. Find a benchmarka spot where the patio meets the house. Look through the level’s scope while a helper holds a leveling rod at the benchmark and moves the rod’s marker until it falls in the scope’s crosshairs.


    Then, at any stake, have your helper, with the marker at the established point, move the rod up or down until the marker falls in the crosshairs.

    Mark the stake at the bottom of the rod. Swivel the level and repeat at each stake.

    Step 3

    Lay The Concrete Pavers

    Cut your spacer down to the size you have planned for your joint width.


    In the photo above, my metal bars are diagonal because I needed to slope my patio in two directions. I thought it would make it easier this way, but I ended up pulling them out and keeping them straight. It was easy enough to follow the slope lines with the strings.

    Lay one the first spacer down, and use a squaring tool to lay down a crossing spacer. Then carefully place your first concrete paver against the two spacers. 

    Repeat, using the spacers to lay more concrete pavers. Remember, you can walk on these as you lay them.

    My metal bars are lying diagonally in the photo above because I needed to slope my patio in two directions. 

    I thought it would make it easier this way, but I ended up pulling them out and keeping them straight. It was easy enough to follow the slope lines with the strings.


    Lay one the first spacer down, and use a squaring tool to lay down a crossing spacer. Then go ahead and carefully place your first concrete paver against the two spacers. 

    Repeat using the spacers to lay more pavers. Remember, you can walk on these as you lay them.

    How To Lay Stepping Stones On Gravel In 8 Simple Steps

    How to Cover a Concrete Patio With Pavers

    A stepping-stone path is a beautiful way to finish any garden or patio area. And as a specialist paving supplier, were frequently asked how to lay stepping stones.


    While laying the slabs directly on the gravel is a quick and easy option, the stepping stones will typically become loose and start shifting as time goes on. Alternatively, you can take a few more steps to create a path thats firmer and more durable.

    Want to create the perfect stepping-stone path by fixing your paving strongly on a gravel surface? Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to lay stepping stones on gravel.

    Tools and materials

    First and foremost, there are a number of tools and materials youll need to lay stepping stones:

    ? Trowel ? Stepping stones of your choice ? Gravel

    1. Layout the stepping-stones one stride apart

    The first step is to decide on the direction of your path and loosely lay out the stones on the ground. To keep an equal space between stones, you can measure the distance with a tape measure. However, an equal stride from the centre of one slab to the next will usually do the trick.


    As the whole point of this path is to allow you to walk from one place to another, it may even be better using one stride, rather than an arbitrary distance. But remember that other people, such as children or elderly relatives, may be using these stepping stones. If this is the case, its better to place the slabs a bit closer together.

    2. Remove gravel from the area of your first slab

    Ready to go?

    Material Type For Paver Joints

    When youre gathering your supplies, youll want to consider the type of material that will fill in the gaps between the concrete pavers.

    Here are some of the gap fillers you might want to consider for your project:

    • Moss: This can be transplanted from your yard or purchased like sod from a nursery.
    • Grass: Let grass grow naturally. The drawback here is you may be end up fighting with weeds
    • Decorative Pebbles: Fill the paver joints with your choice of pebbles. These can be a natural stone color, or brightly colored.
    • Glass stones: For a really glamorous look, use sanded glass pebbles.
    • Sand: Sand is simple and budget-friendly. I recommend using polymeric sand which will seal and harden the sand so you wont track it.

    Quick Links In Post

    Step 6: Make All Of Your Cuts

    Angle Grinder // Circular Saw //

    To make our cuts, we used a circular saw for straight cuts, and a grinder for our curved cuts. For both tools, we used diamond tip blades, which are needed for cutting through concrete and stone without chipping.  Because we laid our pavers in a diamond pattern and had big curve in our pathway, we had to make a LOT of cuts.  It took us Bryan many hours to get through all of them, but it was worth it!

    How To Lay Paving Slabs On An Existing Concrete Base

    Laying paving slabs requires significant planning and care, but when those slabs are to be laid on a concrete surface, different steps need to be taken in order to ensure a safe, effective and long-lasting result. In this article, UK Surfacings Ltd are going to show you how to lay paving slabs onto a concrete base. The idea of laying slabs on concrete sounds more daunting than laying slabs on an aggregate base, for example. However, with the right tools and careful adherence to the process, youll be able to enjoy the perfect surface in no time.

    Materials For Your Concrete Paver Patio

    Project specific supplies:

    • for clay soil-*see note

    *Some Important Notes About Your Project Materials 

    A 16 x16 paver is actually 15 ¾ x 15 ¾ and just over 1 ½ thick .  This is important to know when it comes to sketching out your design so it fits the space well.

    If you are using larger pavers and installing the patio yourself, you may want to take weight into consideration. I used 16×16 pavers, which weighed 36 lbs each! I could carry only one at a time, so this made the project more time consuming.

    Instead, you can opt for the 12 x 12 pavers. Or if you have a little four-wheeled wagon and dont have a hill to go up to, that will make things much easier!

    When it comes to base layer and top layer materials, a landscape supply company in your area will know the best base material for your patio pavers. 

    For instance, if you live in an area that has a high amount of clay in the soil, plan on using extra gravel in your base layer. Clay has draining issues and larger gravel will help with this.

    In my area, the base layer material is known as crusher run. A crusher run has granite dust and coarse and fine angular aggregate and the gravel is about ½-4 in size.

    For my top level,  I used paver dust, but in your area, sand may be recommended. Again, trust the guidance of your local supplier.

    Add A Gravel Base And Reinforcement

    It is important to add a gravel base such that the concrete is not in direct contact with the ground.

    The layer of gravel should be 2-4 inches. However, a thicker layer is allowed when you are on a tight budget and have to keep the concrete patio cost to the lowest possible minimum.

    Instead of compactible gravel, you can also use sand or crushed stones. Compress the layer of gravel or crushed rocks using a handmade compactor with a broad base.

    The idea here is not to drive the gravel into the ground. Rather, compacting is meant to level the stones out and form a reasonably level surface on which the reinforcing steel and concrete will be poured.

    Talking of reinforcing steel, its important to strengthen the concrete slab with steel to reduce the chances of cracking.

    Arrange the steel rods at equal distances from each other along the entire length of the patio. Do the same across the width to form sizable steel square boxes.

    To keep the steel rods from shifting and ruining the square arrangement, use short pieces of binding wire to hold them together at the major joints across the patio space.

    Note that plastic sheeting is important for this step if the patio site is prone to excessive flow of water from underground towards the surface. The sheet helps keep ants off as well.

    Patio After Setting Pavers Over Concrete Patio Slabs

    Family Handyman

    Pavers dress up the patio and make it an attractive outdoor living space. A concrete patio is made for practicality, not beauty. It starts out looking plain and goes downhill from there. As craters, cracks and stains accumulate, it can go from dull to downright ugly in just a few years. But theres a simple solution, whether you want to dress up a bland patio or hide an aging one. Covering concrete with paver bricks is much easier than pouring new concrete or laying paving stones the traditional way. It requires less skill and less time, and its a whole lot easier on your back. Here well walk you through how to lay paving stones over concrete.

    Assess your slab This project will work with most patios. Surface damage like flaking, chips and craters is no problem. But a few conditions make this method a no-go:

    • A too-low threshold. Door thresholds have to be high enough above the existing patio to allow for the thickness of the border pavers, plus an extra 3/4 in. to allow for frost heaverising of the slab when the soil freezes.
    • Expanding cracks. This method will work over most crackswhich grow and shrink with seasonal ground movement. But if you have a crack that has noticeably grown in recent years, this method is risky. The crack may eventually telegraph through the pavers, creating a hump or gaps.

    Note:

    Level The Ground For Your Paver Stones

    Take the four stakes and hit them into the ground 12 outside of your patio area using the rubber mallet. Hammer them in until they are at least a foot into the earth. They should be nice and tight and not move if you pull at them.

    Once theyre secure, measure each stake from the ground up to 4. Mark this. This will be your level line and also the top of your compacted base layer.

    Reminder- due my patio being boxed in on all four sides, my photos show the stakes placed inside the patio area.

    Make sure when you put the stakes into the ground, that they are at least a foot down. They should be nice and tight and not move if you pull at them.

    Measure from the ground, up the stake to 4 and mark this. This will be your level line and also the top of your compacted base layer.

    Take the nylon string and wrap it around the mark you made. How you tie the string is important, so take a moment and read this article that explains how to do this so that you  get the proper tension.

    Keep the string as one continuous string and repeat this for all four stakes, using the tying method linked above. When you return to the first stake, tie it off and cut the string from the spool.

    How To Install Concrete Pavers

    How to Install a Flagstone Paver Patio

    wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 27,241 times.Learn more…

    Concrete pavers can be a beautiful addition to your landscape. They are incredibly strong and durable, making them the ideal solution for your driveway, walkway, patio, steps, or decorative elements around your home. Laying concrete pavers requires you to follow specific steps but before you begin, consider drawing out your design plan or using a free software do so. This will create a visual blueprint for you to follow.

    How To Lay Pavers On Sand

    Laying pavers on sand base follows the same steps as laying them on soil base, but youll be adding a layer of coarse sand, road base, or polymeric sand first. Rake the sand to even it out and use a plate compactor to make your sand base solid so you have a firm, stable base. Lay your pavers in your preferred design the same way you would for a dirt base.

    Step 8: Adjust Stair Treads And Risers

    We bought limestone stair treads from a local stone yard to cap the front of the walkway and all of the stairs.  Its a little lighter than the concrete is, but over time it should even out.  Next year, well finish our stairs and add limestone risers, but for now, paint will get us through the winter!

    Were really, reaaaaaally happy with how it came out!  We saved hundreds, if not thousands, by using these $1 pavers and working with what we had.

    Ready To Order Supplies

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    7. Setting the Pavers: 

    After all the prep work is done start placing your pavers in the sand, using your straight edge as a guide. Butt the pavers close together. There should still be a thin joint line between the pavers that will be filled with sand later. Use a straight edge to ensure Paver are level. Use a rubber mallet to knock down any high pavers. Add more Diamond Sand and reset any low pavers. If you were diligent leveling the sand, you should only have a minimal amount of leveling at this stage.

    8. Laying pavers over an existing slab:

    First mortar your soldier pavers around the edge, keeping a consistent ½ joint. Then, lay a ½ of Diamond Sand in the field. It is imperative to lay a sand bed down to create a buffer between the pavers and the concrete slab. Pavers rubbing against concrete will eventually wear down and/or crack. This will also smooth out any imperfections the slab may have had. Laying pavers over an existing driveway is not recommended, no matter the size.

    9. Brick Distribution:

    If you are installing more than 1 pallet it is a good practice to pull Brick from several different pallets as you work through your project. If there are slight color variations, this practice will help to minimize any noticeable difference.

    10. Cutting pavers:

    11. Concrete Restraining Edge:

    12. Laying pavers over an existing slab:

    Sealing:

    Build And Install The Concrete Form

    If you have the right tools and know how to use them, concrete forms are easy to make. First, cut the lumber or form boards into sizes that fit the lengths and widths you mapped out in step one.

    The wood forms all around the patio space should be placed on the inside of the stakes. To build a stronger form, consider nailing the lumber to short straight forms rather than the stakes.

    However, keep the stakes in place at least until you drive all the vertical straight forms into the ground.

    At this step, you also want to check that the concrete form maintains the slope you introduced in step two. Again, the levels will come in handy here, and the strings will also guide you.

    How To Lay Pavers On Dirt

    It really depends on the type of soil in your area, but laying pavers on dirt is simple as long as you ensure they wont move or sink over time.

    You should already have a detailed plan of the area you want to pave as well as the layout and design you want, so insert garden stakes around the border and tie string between them. Use a spade to remove the top layer of grass or other material within the staked area and use a hand or mechanical compacter to tamp down the soil and even it out.

    If the soil is very dry, wet it down to make compacting easier and use a spirit level to ensure the area is flat and even. A layer of weed mat or landscaping fabric over the soil will keep weeds from growing between the pavers and make the base more stable.

    How To Lay Pavers Brick Patio Stone And Stone Pavers

    How To Lay Pavers, Brick, Patio Stone and Stone PaversBegin by assessing what is currently in the project area where you intend to lay your new pavers. If you have a lot of sugar sand, you are going to want to remove as much as possible. If the water table is high in your area, or you have water and/or flooding issues, the base material depth will have to change. In Florida, we live in dirt, sand, and if you are lucky you may have a lime rock bed under the area . Therefore, you must take precautionary measures to ensure your pavers will not fail over time. Follow the simple steps below to make sure your hard-scape lasts in our tropical climate.

    1. Choosing your Pavers/Patio Stones:

    Patio StonesClay BrickTurf Block, travertine, Natural FlagstoneNatural KeystoneDense Oolite etc are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, strengths, etc There are different products to match different applications. Here are a few rules to follow when choosing a hardscape for your project:

    Thin pavers/brick are NEVER to be used for a driving surface. I dont care what you have heard, unless you have a specially engineered, high-strength, polymer product specifically designed to be driven on, you will ruin thin pavers/brick if you drive on them. No matter if they are all mortared to a concrete slab or have 12 of base under them, they will fail.

    2. Mark the Project Area Dimensions: 

    3. Grade Stakes:

    4. The Dig Out: 

    5. Base Materials: 

    6. Sand:

    Continue Screeding And Laying Pavers

    Continue Screeding and Laying Pavers

    Continue screeding the sand bed one section at a time before laying the next area of pavers. Once laid, the pavers provide an excellent area to work without upsetting the newly screeded sand bed. Continue screeding and laying pavers, leaving the area for the fountain open.

    Level The Top Layer Of The Concrete Paver Patio Base

    Found on Google from diynetwork.com

    Use the square nose shovel to scoop the paver dust and spread it onto the base layer. Do this in a sifting type of motion to get it even. 

    Dont tamp the sand before laying the pavers. The screeding will basically have already compacted the sand for you.

    I recommend only screeding one section at a time, for two reasons. One is that if it rains before you have placed your pavers, you will need to add more sand and relevel with the screed. 

    The other is that since you can walk on the pavers as you place them, it will be much easier to get around the patio. Youll be forced to work outside the patio the whole time if you level the entire space at once. Youll also benefit by getting a second set of hands for this.

    To screed the sand for leveling, start at one end and place the screed on top of the pipes. 

    Hold the screed tight to the pipes and push it across the pipes. Keep the pressure even as you move along. 

    You may need to slide the screed back and forth to help even the sand out.

    If you get to the end and you meet a wall, like the foundation of your house, use a mason float to scoop out the additional sand. 

    You can also use the float if there are any spots that you accidentally pulled a piece of gravel through and it made a divot, or your hand hit.

    Spread Masonry Sand Across Pavers

    Spread Masonry Sand

    Making sure to fill the spaces in between each paver, spread masonry sand across the entire surface. Leaving surplus sand across the top of the pavers helps cushion the surface when you use the plate compactor. The vibration of the plate compactor also helps to fill the joints in between pavers.

    Overlaying Is Not Appropriate For Driveways

    As a general rule, overlay is not usable for driveways. The underlying slab doesn’t allow for any give and as a result, pavers are more likely to rock or crack.

    Overlaying concrete pavers is an excellent way to up your homes curb appeal and functionality. Pavers are durable, look great, and can add value to your home. Make sure to consider these tips before starting your project. Or speak with a hardscaping contractor to determine if an overlay is a possible solution.

    If you’d like to learn more about overlaying pavers to improve the look of your Sonoma County home, give the experts at Bayside Pavers a call at 1-866-287-2837. We can help you design the perfect solution to meet your unique needs. Our knowledgeable team members are ready to help you create the outdoor living space you’ve been dreaming about!

    Using Pavers To Upgrade Your Existing Concrete Patio

    If your ready for an aesthetic upgrade to your outdoor living space or driveway but aren’t looking forward to the hassle and expense of tearing up your existing concrete slab, you’re in luck. With proper preparation, concrete pavers can be installed on top of concrete without mortar.

    While this type of installation is possible, you need to take certain precautions to prevent problems like drainage issues, settling and cracking. Here are some benefits of concrete pavers and timely tips for upgrading your existing concrete patio, driveway or walkway with beautiful concrete pavers.

    Step 5: Spread Paver Sand Over Concrete

    We had some trial & error in this step.  We accidentally bought this paver base sand, which we assumed was what we should be using based on the description.  We poured out a bunch of bags and stomped it down, attempting to create a solid base over our concrete.

    We spread the finer paver sand on top of it, and started laying pavers.  After getting through many rows, we tested them and realized they were wobbly.  The paver base was too rocky, so we removed all of it and started from scratch.

    This time, we skipped the paver base and used JUST sand.  The finer sand was so much easier to work with and gave the pavers a soft but firm surface to sit on. We poured about 3/4? of leveling paver sand on top of the old concrete and spread it to level out any minor surface imperfections.


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