How to Level the Base of Patio Blocks
Patio blocks can be a welcome addition to any home. Not only do they make the home more presentable, they often raise the home's value. Whether you are laying stone pavers for a rustic feel or red brick for a sense of elegance, a well-designed patio can feel like a whole other room outside the home. But your new patio isn't going to build itself. And if done incorrectly, a patio can devalue a home. Making sure that the patio blocks are level is key. Follow these steps so that your patio project is right from the start. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wood stakes
- String
- Hammer
- Carpenter's square
- Weed mat (optional)
- Coarse gravel
- Leveling sand
- Shovel
- Straight edge--usually a long 2-by-4
- 4-foot level
- Plate compactor
- Broom
- 1-by-6-inch boards--enough to outline the perimeter of patio (optional)
- Power drill
- Wood screws
Instructions
-
-
1
Outline the shape of the patio by using the stakes and string. With the hammer, drive the stakes about 2 inches outside of the desired patio edge. The extra space will leave room for the edging that will hold the blocks in place. Loop the string around each stake to form the patio outline. Make sure any angles are exactly 90 degrees using the carpenter's square.
-
2
Dig down about 6 inches, plus the depth of the patio blocks, inside of the stakes. Level the dirt. Use the plate compactor to compress the soil to avoid any sink holes later.
-
-
3
Lay the 1-by-6 boards inside the edges (against the walls) of the newly formed hole. Use more stakes to secure them upright (they should form a 6-inch wall at the edge). Make sure they are level. Leveling is important because it will help you to level the final layer of sand, ensuring the blocks have a level base before they are installed. Use the square to make sure the boards are perfectly square. Secure them using your drill and screws.
-
4
Fill the hole until it is about 4 inches full of gravel. Fill any gaps on the outside of the retainer boards with the gravel. Using a short straight-edge, screed (drag the straight edge over) the gravel until it is level. The gravel doesn't have to be perfectly level, but there should be about 2 inches of the retainer boards now showing all the way around the patio edge. The dirt above the boards should be about the depth of the patio block. Use the plate compactor to compress the gravel (plate compactors can be rented at most hardware stores). Use remaining dirt to fill the outer gap of the retainer wall. This will be where the patio edging will go when it is time to install the patio block.
-
5
Pour the leveling sand onto the layer of gravel. Spread it over the gravel until it has reached the top of the retaining board. Use a long straight-edge to screed the sand using the retaining boards as guides. If the boards are still level, you will be able to run the straight edge over them, pulling the excess sand out of the patio box. Use the plate compactor to compress the sand. Add more sand and level accordingly. Then use the plate compactor again. Repeat this until the sand is exactly level with the boards around the perimeter.
-
6
Double-check to make sure everything is level using the 4-foot level throughout. Now that the base is level, you are ready to add your patio blocks.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure your retaining walls are secure and level throughout the job, as they will make the job easier in the end.
For larger patios, level the patio so that it is graded at about a 1- to 2-inch drop for each 8 feet. This will help with water drainage.
This job requires a large amount of physical labor.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit table & chaises image by fotogisèle from Fotolia.com
