How to Make Concrete Paver Forms from Wood
Concrete pavers are practical as well as decorative. While it is possible to make forms for pouring multiple pavers at the same time, this article addresses making a single paving stone. If you feel it would be faster or more economical to make multiple pavers at once, merely attach several forms together. Remember, forms do not have to be the same size or even the same shape to form a beautiful walkway through a yard or garden.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 x 3 lumber Table saw Carpenter's square 1 1/2 inch wood screws Shovel Trowel Concrete mixer (or plastic mixing tray) 25 pounds of Portland Cement Sand Gravel Water Work gloves Wire mesh Wheelbarrow Screwdriver or drill with screwdriver bit Level Vegetable oil Cloth
Instructions
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1
Cut two pieces of 1 x 3 lumber which are 1 1/2 inches longer than the paver you wish to make. Cut two pieces the exact length of the paver you will be pouring.
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2
Screw the boards together so they form a frame with the inside dimension the same size as the paver you wish to pour, using two 1 1/2-inch wood screws at each corner. The reason you cut two of the boards 1 1/2 inches longer than your paver is so they overlap for the screws. Use your carpenter's square to make sure that the forms you are making are square.
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3
Dig a hole a little larger than your paver which is 3 inches deep. Level the bottom of the hole.
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Fill the hole carefully at least 1 inch deep with water, using a hose. Allow the water to soak into the soil, compacting it.
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Set your form in place in the hole. Use your level to make sure it is level in both directions. Wipe a coating of vegetable oil on the inside of your form using a cloth or paper towels. This helps the form to release from the cement later.
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Mix your concrete. Mix by volume, not by weight. Add 3 times as much sand and 3 times as much gravel as cement. Add enough water to create a mix that is about the consistency of cake batter.
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Pour your concrete into your wheelbarrow and take it to the form. Shovel enough concrete into the form to fill it approximately half way. Cut a piece of wire mesh just slightly smaller than the paver and lay it on top of the cement. Then shovel in enough cement to fill the form all the way to the top.
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Use a piece of scrap wood slightly larger than your form and run it over the top edges of your form to make sure the cement is flat and even with the top of the form. This is called screeding. Use your trowel to smooth the top of the cement. Once the cement starts to harden, use your trowel to push down the concrete around the edges of your form, making the edges slightly rounded if desired.
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Allow the concrete to harden at least 48 hours. Remove screws and gently tap the pieces of wood. They should pull away from your paver fairly easily. Keep your pavers wet for at least 14 days and don't use them for 28 days if possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Once pavers are partially dry you may wish to coat them with a cement dye to color them. Cement dyes can be purchased at most hardware stores. Even though your pavers may seem dry and hard after just a few days, the chemical bonds in cement do not fully cure for 28 days.
