How to Lay Pavers Straight

Keep pavers straight for the look of professional work.

Creating a patio or walkway to beautify your landscape can be very costly if you choose to use a professional landscaper. However, if you choose to do it on your own, you can save money since you will only need to pay for the materials. The biggest concern that most people have with doing a project like this by themselves is quality. With little to no experience, care must be taken to ensure that the pavers are laid straight for the most professional look.

Things You'll Need

• String
• Chalk

Instructions

1. Choose your pattern and pavers carefully. A simple pattern with square or rectangular pavers will be much easier to lay than a more complicated pattern that consists of pavers that are different shapes. Measuring your area carefully can help you decide if a simpler pattern or a more complicated one will be most appropriate. The smaller the area, the easier it will be to use a more complicated pattern as there is less opportunity to make a mistake.

2. Start laying your pavers in a corner. Since you will have two straight sides to guide you, starting in a corner that measures 90 degrees will help to ensure that you get the straightest start possible. Working along the marked edges of the area you are paving will also help to achieve a straight start.

3. Lay strings or chalk lines to maintain straight lines. Running strings along the ground or snapping chalk lines with special chalk string will serve as a guide for you as you continue to lay the pavers. Measuring the space between the strings and chalk lines will help to ensure that they are placed at uniform distances for the most professional look.

4. Check the pavers periodically. Once you have laid an area of pavers, it is always helpful to recheck the alignment of the pavers using a string. Checking periodically will help you avoid having to redo large portions of your project should you make a mistake early on. A 2 x 4 board can also be used to check the straightness of the pavers.

5. Cut pavers that do not fit. Rather than turning pavers to make them fit into the space left at the far edge or around a garden or other object, it is best to cut the paver to fit the space. Doing so will create a professional look, rather than looking like you did it yourself. This will also keep the pavers aligned properly to keep straight lines throughout.

References

• Belgard: How to Install Pavers
• Propatio: Paver Installation Guide