How to Set Pavers in Sand

Pavers are a great way to beautify exteriors of a home.

Fitting patios and walkways with concrete or stone pavers will give an aesthetic beauty to your outdoor decor. Setting of these pavers is a simple process, the success of which depends upon the correct preparation of the supporting surface, which consists of crushed rock filled with sand. The pavers will be set into this layer of sand and compacted to prepare an even, beautiful paved surface. The consistency of sand used is critical in determining the strength and durability of the final surface.

Things You'll Need

• String lines
• Digging equipment
• Crushed rock
• Rake
• Manual compactor
• 1-inch PVC pipe
• Sand
• Wooden piece
• Pavers
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Sand binding sealant

Instructions

1. Mark the area where you wish to set the pavers. Use string lines to denote the height that you desire the paver to reach. Ensure that for every 4 feet, you slope this height 1 inch downward to allow for water to drain. Place stakes and place the strings tightly on these. Add the thickness of the base, the sand bedding and the paver to calculate the depth to which you need to dig below the string lines. Excavate the area to this depth.

2. Fill crushed rock into the dug-up area so that it forms a layer that is about 4 inches deep. Rake the surface to make it level. Use a manual compactor over the crushed rock layer to make it sit firmly in place.

3. Take two pieces of 1-inch PVC pipe and place them on the rock layer, parallel to each other to lay out the space where the paver will fit. Add coarse sand to the space between the two pipes and spread it using a wooden piece to smooth the surface of the sand so it is flush with the top of the pipes. Remove the pipes and fill in the gaps with sand. Do this for a 50-square-foot section at a time.

4. Using the string lines as a guide, lay out the pavers in a staggered manner and fit them tightly together. Cut along the edges of the pavers to make them the right size, using a hammer and chisel if necessary. Repeat the process of spreading sand and placing pavers along the next patch and then another until all the pavers are set over the entire area. Use the manual compactor to compact the pavers firmly into the base sand.

5. Cover the surface of the pavers lightly with sand and brush the sand into the joints so that they are completely filled. Use moderately fine sand to ensure the joints are completely full. Avoid using too fine a grade of sand since it will not allow strong interlocking.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the sand you use is dry because moist sand will not allow a proper filling of the joints.

• After you finish setting the pavers, use a sand binding sealant on this area to make sure the sand in the joints remains intact. This sealant also prevents vegetation from growing in between the paver joints.

References

• Grounds Maintenance: How To: Install Concrete Pavers
• The Home Depot Garden Club: Installing Pavers in Sand
• PaverSearch: Installing Pavers Continued