How to Have Brick and Pavingstone Paths Installed

Brick or pavingstone paths and walls can really accent your landscaping and help make your backyard a true outdoor living space.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencils
• Notebook Papers
• Pencils
• Pencils

1. Decide where you want paths or walls.

2. Visit several building-supply houses to look at the various colors and styles of bricks or pavingstones.

3. Select a style and color that you feel best goes with your house and your landscaping plan (and your budget as well - costs can vary significantly).

4. Order the material. Inquire with the salesperson regarding the approximate number of bricks or pavingstones required per square foot and order accordingly. You'll also need to include the recommended amount of sand and/or mortar with your order.

5. Interview several landscapers or brick masons to get prices for the job. Ask friends or relatives for recommendations or check the yellow pages.

6. Give each contractor a diagram detailing what you want installed.

7. Ask for references from each contractor and check with these past customers. Was each job completed satisfactorily?

8. Select a contractor based on price, references and your impressions.

9. Execute a contract for the work. The contract should specify the cost, payment schedule, start date, and estimated completion date. It's also a good idea to confirm the total amount of material required (to protect you against waste by the contractor).

Tips & Warnings

• Pavingstones are similar to bricks, but they are manufactured in a variety of shapes that interconnect in various patterns. They are often laid in a bed of sand with no mortar.
• Check out landscaping books and magazines for creative ideas - pavingstones and bricks are extremely versatile in the yard and you can be used to create some very nice designs.

on 11/22/2005 Paving stone is not rocket science. The best jobs are those with the best foundation. The pattern and style of the stone is just the icing on the cake. Make sure your contractor compacts his excavation (the bottom of the hole) before putting in the gravel. Make sure he compacts every 6 inches grade or so of gravel. Spread the gravel six inches thick, compact, and repeat until you've got the desired thickness for the utility of the paving stones. Heavy utility driveways need thicker foundations than a garden path would. After placing the stones, sand is packed in between the stones. This process requires he sweep sand over and between the stones and pass a vibrating plate over the stones. The vibration makes the sand fall down into the space between the stones. Then he has to sweep the sand and compact it again to fill up the spaces until they are completely packed. This should be done at least twice and repeated as necessary until the gaps between the stones are completely filled. Some contractors take a shortcut for this method by applying screening (ground stone dust) the first time, which is cheaper. This is fine, provided they make sure to pass the vibrating plate often enough since screening requires more vibration to settle than the usual sand. Make sure you deal with the city and that your contractor is responsible for any utilities that might be hindered by the paving (especially power and gas, which generally run on the property 3 feet from the sidewalk). If this is the case, you will have to require he put in PVC sleeves to accommodate utilities.

on 11/22/2005 The lowest quote for an installation is not necessarily the best quote. Remember you get what you pay for. Look deep into what the quote comprises of and make sure you are comparing apples to apples.