How to Lay Pavers

Pavers are one of the most popular forms of outdoor walkways because of their durability and easy installation. Once you lay pavers, you will have a walkway that supports any amount of weight and will last the rest of your lifetime. Read on to learn how to lay pavers.

Things You'll Need

• Coarse sand
• Rubber mallet
• Leveling board
• Brick chisel
• Level
• Fine sand
• Brush

Instructions

1. Mark the path where you want to lay pavers. Dig out the path to a depth of 4 inches. Pack the soil down firmly using a heavy object, such as an old fencepost. It does not have to be perfectly smooth, but you'll want to pack down any areas jetting up above the rest of the soil.

2. Line the outside of your path with boards. The boards should be level with the ground. Use a rubber mallet to tap the boards into the soil so they stay in place.

3. Fill the bottom two inches of the pathway with coarse sand. Be sure to use coarse sand and not builder's sand, because coarse sand compacts better. Try to even out the sand as best you can with a rake and then run over it with a leveling board.

4. Lay the pavers in your pathway using whatever pattern you desire. If you need to, you can split the pavers with a brick chisel to make them fit. Place the paves tightly against one another and press them into the sand with the rubber mallet.

5. Check periodically to make sure the pavers are level--use a level. Place the level at different angles to make sure the pathway is level in all directions. If any pavers are sticking up causing the pathway to not be level, pound them deeper into the ground with the rubber mallet.

6. Pour a layer of fine sand over the pavers after you lay them. The sand will fill in any small gaps between the pavers. Use a brush to spread the sand over all of the joints and press down firmly to make sure all joints are filled. Use a broom to sweep away any left over sand.