The Steps for Building a Patio

A patio is a stylish and functional addition to a yard.

Building a patio yourself is a challenge, but with careful attention to each step and a few days of labor you can create an outdoor space that will last for years. Whether you prefer to use stones, concrete pavers or bricks, the most important step is laying a strong foundation. Prepare a design for your pavers or stones before you break ground to ensure the pattern suits the shape and size.

Create a Plan

Making a design plan for your patio keeps you on track once you begin construction. Survey your backyard and choose a convenient location that gets enough sun and has space for your furniture. Draw a scale diagram of the site and patio and consider different patterns for the stones. If you're building a rectangular patio with pavers or stone tiles, you can choose from straight rows, a basket weave or a number of other interlocking patterns.

Prepare the Location

Measure your site and mark out the shape of the patio with landscape tape. Use a square shovel to remove all growth from the site, and dig an expanse 8 inches deep. Dig an extra 1 inch deeper for every 4 feet of length away from the house to grade the site for drainage. Without a slight slope directing water away from the house, you will have a drainage problem. Pass over the site three times with a compactor machine to compress the ground.

Lay the Foundation

The dry method of installing a patio involves laying stones over a gravel and sand base. The gravel supports the surface and facilitates drainage beneath the patio. You need to tamp the gravel every 3 inches to compact the stones sufficiently. Add two 3-inch layers over the patio site using highway gravel. Unlike pea gravel, highway gravel is shaped irregularly so it packs snug together for optimal strength. Top the gravel bed with 2 inches of course sand to smooth the surface of the base.

Set the Patio Stones or Pavers

Set the patio stones straight down on the sand in your planned arrangement. If you drag the stones across, you'll need to repair the sand bed. The stones should be flush against each other if they are rectangular. If you're laying snapped stones of different shapes and sizes, the gaps should be as small as possible. Press each stone into the bedding so they are even with each other. Once the stones are all placed, pack fine sand or stone dust into the joints. Sand or dust joints pad your surface stones as they settle.

References

• "Popular Mechanics"; Build Your Own Natural Stone Patio; May 2006
• Concrete Network: Installing Concrete Pavers

Resources

• Paver Search: Laying Patterns for Patio Pavers