How to Install Irregular Granite Pavers
Granite is a beautiful hard stone which can be cut and shaped and used in a variety of ways. It can be polished for a countertop or floor or can be left natural for paving walkways, driveways and patios. Granite pavers can be cut into rectangles, squares or other shapes or can be left irregular, for a more natural look. But once properly installed, granite pavers will last forever with very little maintenance. Installing granite pavers can be done easily by the average homeowner. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Granite pavers
- Wet saw
- Gravel
- Sand
- Hand or mechanical tamper
- Edging, metal, plastic, wood or concrete
- Tape measure
- Stakes
Instructions
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Plan and lay out your paving area to calculate the number of granite pavers needed. Use a tape measure to get length and width of your area and make a rough diagram of the area. Multiply width times length to calculate the square footage, then order enough granite pavers to fill that area, plus about 10 percent to account for potential breakage or mistakes. Stake out the area with wood stakes and builder's twine -- add 3 inches on each side for walks and patios, 6 inches for driveways. Check with utility companies to be sure there are no buried water, communications or gas lines; check local building authorities for any permits or restrictions.
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Prepare a good base. Remove the sod and excavate the paving area, 4 to 6 inches deep for patios and walks, another 8 to 9 inches for driveways. Smooth out and compact the dirt, allowing a slight slope for drainage. You may want to put down landscape fabric, but this is optional. Lay down a course of gravel, 3 to 4 inches for walks and patios, 6 to 7 inches for driveways, and compact it with a hand or mechanical tamper. Put edge restraints on the edges -- metal, plastic, pressure-treated wood or concrete strips. Then add a layer of sand, 1 to 3 inches deep, and compact it firmly.
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Lay your granite pavers, starting at one corner and working across and down the area. With irregular pavers, you won't have to worry about a pattern, but you will have to juggle stones to fit. Use a wet saw to cut stones to fit at the edges if necessary. Use a string staked across the top of the area to help keep granite pavers level. Once the area is filled, use a compactor to set the stones firmly in the sand. Then sweep sand into the crevices between stones; some installers use a compactor to drive sand firmly into the gaps. You will have to continue sweeping in sand for a few more days to completely fill gaps.
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