How to Install Patio Pavers

Before You Begin

Install the pavers on a base of gravel or crushed rock, followed by sand. The base material should be 3/4-inch minus construction gravel or crushed rock. The sand should be coarse sand delivered in bulk.

You'll also need fine sand for sweeping between the joints, but only one bag. So, you can pick that up on your own, if you like.

Safety Considerations

Moving large amounts of heavy materials can take a toll on your body. Use a wheelbarrow. When shoveling, lift from your legs, not your back. Wear breathing protection. Frequently spray the area with water to keep the dust down.

Instructions

In yards with grass, all turf must be removed down to the soil. The dug-out area must be low enough to accommodate the patio's base layer of gravel and sand.

1. Create Layout

   Lay out the general area with a garden hose to get a basic sense of space. Refine this layout by hammering in wood stakes and creating a shape with thin rope or twine. Ensure your lines are even, and use a carpenter's square to square up the corners.

1. Calculate Materials to Buy

   Determine the quantity of pavers, base material, and sand to purchase on the general shape. Measure the length by the width to arrive at the total square footage. Add 10-percent to account for expected wastage. The choice of the paver pattern affects how many pavers you need. For example, if you will be laying pavers on curves or diagonals, increase the excess to 15- to 20-percent.

    

Irregular stones

1. Dig Out Turf and Soil

   Remove the turf until you reach the soil below. Place the bubble level on the two-by-four to check for slope. Ensure the patio slopes down about 1 inch (vertically) per 48 inches (horizontally). You may need to transfer the soil or add sand to create a slope.

   To make the pavers ground level, dig about 6 inches down to allow for 4 inches of base material, 1 inch of sand bedding, and the pavers' 1-inch thickness.

    

2. Smooth and Tamp Area

   Use the shovel and the two-by-four to smooth out the area. Then, use the tamping tool to tamp down the soil.

    

3. Lay Base Material

   Transfer the base material to the patio area. Spread the material with the shovel and rake. Screed the base material smooth with the two-by-four. Finish by tamping it firmly down.

1. Add Edging

   Add the edge restraint of your choice to the base material. Some types of edging may need to be staked into the ground.

    

2. Lay Down Coarse Sand

   Lay about 1 inch of the coarse (not fine) bedding sand. Be sure to keep the height even across the area, as this is the last layer; its height will determine the final height of the patio.

1. Cut Pavers

   Cut the pavers with a masonry saw or an angle grinder fitted with a masonry disk. Wear hearing and breathing protection and safety glasses.

    

2. Lay Pavers

   Lay the pavers on the coarse sand base. Keep the paver joints tight. Occasionally tamp the pavers by gently tapping them with a hammer. Soften the impact with a small piece of plywood or scrap two-by-four.

    

3. Add Sand to Joints

   Toss a few handfuls of fine sand on the pavers. Sweep the sand into the joints. Sweep away any excess sand.