Installing Patio Pavers

Are you thinking of giving your patio a very European or 1970s look? If you are, and are going through this article, you are doing the right thing! But before elucidating about installation, it's important to know what are pavers exactly. So it is an already cast piece of concrete or brick. Generally, it is used for exterior landscaping applications. When installed over a compacted stone sub base and a leveling bed of sand, these concrete paving stones can be used in walkways, patios, pool decks, driveways and so on. For most part, concrete pavers are a better choice. So if you want to give your patio a good makeover, here is how you can do it!

How to Install Patio Pavers?

• First things first, a plan is very important for projects like these. A clear and a good plan will go a long way in making such a endeavor a success.
• After ordering the material needed or getting it together yourself, you will need to outline the concerned area. While you order the material, just make sure that you get some extra pavers.
• Now outline the concerned area using string or garden hose. Drive stakes for holding the outline firmly in its place and for making clean corners.
• For avoiding water pooling on your pavers, they need to be slightly above the surface of the ground surrounding them. So while you plan the slope, start with the tentatively highest point. That point would most probably be the point closest to your house.
• If the project area is irregular, then you would have to even it out.
• Now, excavate the area in question. Remember that those spaces which are liable to only foot traffic, require 4 inch to 6 inch base material. After consulting a building supply store, anticipate how deep the base needs to be and add around 1.5 inch for the sand layer, in addition to the thickness of the pavers. The total depth of the base, the sand and the pavers will determine the depth of the excavation of the area.
• Measure the depth of the excavated area using the string used to track the slope, and not from the ground surface.
• Now lay the base, which will comprise coarse, crushed stones. To the whole of the dug up area, do not add more than two inch at a time.
• Flatten and compact it by using a hand tamper or a plate compactor. Repeat this and the earlier step until you get the desired base depth.
• If you make a base outside the boundary of the project area, it will add a stability.
• After you are done with this, set up the edge restraints, which will hold the shape of the project for a long period of time. These are mostly made of plastic, steel or aluminum.
• Follow it up by laying a layer of sand. Sand acts as a glue to hold the pavers in place. Spread the sand smoothly and uniformly over the depth of 1 inch or 1 and a half inch.
• In case your project is large, you would need to lay down 1 inch screed pipes and then pour the sand between them. Screed the sand in sections of 50 to 100 feet each.
• After removing the pipes, fill the gap with more sand.
• Now lay the pavers, which is easier as compared to the previous process. To lay them properly, lay them straight in the sand. Never slide them along the ground or kick them into place, disturbing the sand.
• Have a paver slid straight down the edge of an already placed one.
• Generally between 2 pavers you would need to leave 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch gap, so don't worry about the gap.
• Keep on checking in between for the level of the pavers.
• To tamp the paver into the sand, use a plate compactor and run it over them once you have installed all of them. This will ensure that they are snugly placed into the sand.
• Now use a slightly finer sand and fill the joints between them. Simply pour them over the pavers and sweep them in the cracks till they are totally filled. This sand, locks them in place and hence make sure that the sand is dry.
• Finally seal the pavers with a sealing product, that will prevent growth of weed.

See, it was a tough task initially with all the digging, but as it progressed, it was not that tough, isn't it?

Have a cool patio with these pavers! Go for it!