How to Put in Patio Pavers
Patio pavers come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic installation for all of them is the same. The supplies can be delivered directly to your work site, and the work can be completed with basic household tools. The only item that the average homeowner may need to acquire is a plate compactor. Good planning and preparation are key to a good job. While the work is labor intensive, there is no need to hire a professional. Maintain an easy, steady pace to put in your patio pavers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the size of the patio. Use stakes and string to define the outer edges. Dig out the site with a shovel. Excavate 4 or 5 extra inches on each side.
-
2
Use a plate compactor to tamp down the soil. Run strings across the site at a height equal to the finished patio. Include the aggregate base thickness, a layer of sand and the height of the pavers in your height calculation. Account for a slight grade in one direction for water drainage.
-
-
3
Fill the site with 4 inches of an aggregate base like crushed rock. Tamp the base down with a plate compactor.
-
4
Use treated lumber as restraints around the perimeter of the site. Place the restraints on top of the aggregate so that their height is lower than the patio's top surface. Measure the inner perimeter of the restraints so that it is equal to the finished, outer dimensions of the patio.
-
5
Lay a 1-inch layer of sand on top of the aggregate base and tamp it down with a plate compactor. Measure frequently from the string so that you remain level to the finished height.
-
6
Install the pavers. Begin in one corner and work outward. The top of the pavers should reach the guide strings. Make adjustments to the height of the pavers by adding or removing sand.
-
7
When all of the pavers are in place, use a push broom to spread sand over the patio. Make sure the sand fills the areas between the pavers. This will make the pavers more stable, and help keep crabgrass and weeds from growing between them.
-
8
Cover the restraints by back filling around the patio with dirt from the excavation. Spread grass seed around the patio perimeter to integrate it back into the surrounding area.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Decorative stone can be a pleasing look around the perimeter of the patio, particularly if you do not want grass abutting the pavers. Use weed killer and/or lay weed-retardant cloth on top of the soil prior to laying the aggregate base.
