How to Build Patios Without Cement

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By Gardengates
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Build Patios Without Cement

You can build a patio without cement. By laying flagstone, tile, brick or other sturdy flat pavers on a well-prepared base, your patio will be less expensive, water-permeable and therefore more eco-friendly and will look beautiful. You can even dig it up and change it's location in the future!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Choose the paving material you want to use for your selected area. Measure the size and calculate the area (height X width). You can buy paving materials from large hardware stores, home stores, some garden suppliers, tile outlets or construction material retailers and wholesalers.
Step 2

There are a lot of variations to the 'recipe' here depending on your soil and drainage. The better your drainage, the more shallow the digging. Some people will only dig a few inches. Most drainage should be able to handle digging the area down 4 - 8" deep removing roots and rocks. The deeper you dig, the more stable your area is likely to be.
Step 3

Line the outer edges with bender board or similar material, holding it in place temporarily with stakes. (Some people prefer no edging.) Hose the area lightly.
Step 4

Fill the bottom with road base to a depth of about 2 - 4". You can also use 3/4" gravel, crushed recycled cement or another similar product. Some folks like to cover this layer with weed cloth. I've found weeds are relatively easy to pull without the cloth and if your pavers vary in thickness, the weed cloth can make it hard to set them evenly. Your choice. Hose the area lightly again.
Step 5

Add another 2 - 4" of sharp sand and fit your pavers together with the gap you want between. If you leave larger gaps, plan on filling the exposed cracks with carpeting ground-cover plants or decorative gravel. If you are using flagstone, the closer you want stones to fit, the more chipping and shaping you will have to do. Another light water wash will help clean and set the sand.
Step 6

Fill between the cracks with more sand until it overflows. I leave it for a few days to let the sand settle and work into the cracks. Then sweep it over and sprinkle it and water it in lightly. If you are planning on filling large gaps with plants, you are ready for planting. If you want to fill the spaces with decorative gravel or river rock, don't bother with the "overflowing sand" part and skip right to your filling material. When finished, wash it down lightly one more time.