How to Make Molds for Concrete Pavers

Making molds for stone pavers is fast, easy and fun. And making your own concrete pavers can also save you money. By building your own mold you control the shape, size and thickness of your paver, insuring that you are getting exactly the paver that you need and want.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 inch wood for frame
• Table saw, circular saw or jigsaw
• Drill with 1/8 bit
• screw drill bit
• 8 1 1/4-inch-screws
• Spray lacquer
• Masking tape
• Fast-drying concrete
• (concrete release)

How to Make Molds for Concrete Pavers

1. Cut a strip from 1/2 inch lumber that is the height of the paver you wish to make. If you are making a 12 X 12 inch paver that is 2 inches thick you will need two strips of wood 12 inches long plus 2 strips 13 inches long that are 2 inches high.

2. Assemble your strips of wood into the shape of a square with inside measurements that are 12 inches on a side held together with masking tape.

3. Drill two pilot holes 1/4 of an inch from each end of 13 inch long strips (a total of 4 holes in each of the two strips) and then use your screwdriver drill bit to assemble a square with your 8 1 1/4-inch screws. You now have a square that is 2 inches high with an insdie measurement of 12 inches on a side and completely open on the top and bottom . It should look like a 2-inch-deep perfectly square picture frame.

4. Spray the inside of your mold with the fast-drying spray lacquer. Allow to dry and spray a second coat. Allow the second coat to dry completely. You may wish to spray concrete release on your mold in order to make mold removal easier once your paver is dry.

5. Level a section of sand that is just over 12 inches square. Lay your square paver mold on the sand and carefully fill the mold with concrete all the way to the top. Level the concrete if necessary. Allow the concrete to dry completely as per the directions given by the concrete manufacturer. Once dry, simply lift the mold off of your paver.

Tips & Warnings

• Concrete release may be necessary, but experiment with one paver first as most concrete will easily release from a lacquered surface without the use of a concrete release spray.

• If your lacquered surface becomes scratched, respray before making the next paver.

• Multiple molds can allow you to make multiple pavers at the same time.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish