What is pavers base

Add more sand as needed; dampen and compact again. Finally, install the pavers in the desired pattern. A running bond pattern is relatively simple, while a herringbone design adds an elegant touch to a simple installation.

Lay the first row against a straight edge, such as the side of the house. Drop each paver into place, and tap with a rubber mallet to settle it firmly into the sand.

Add or remove a little sand under each paver, if necessary, to maintain a level surface. Once all the pavers are in place, sweep paver, joint or other fine sand over the entire surface of the patio to fill the crevices between the pavers.

Always wear a dust mask, safety goggles, boots or sturdy shoes, gloves, long pants and long sleeves when excavating the site and working with gravel and sand. A wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen will help protect your skin from UV rays; you can get a sunburn even on a cloudy day.

A hand truck and wheelbarrow simplify moving the materials from the driveway to the building site. Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. Hide Thumbnails. Believe it or not, properly installed pavers are more structurally sound than concrete, and they can withstand much more weight and wear than blacktop.

You can lay a structurally sound base in four simple steps: layout, grade, gravel, and sand. You can get many of these items at a Western Interlock facility in Oregon or Washington , a local hardware store, or landscape supplier. First, mark out your area using white marking paint. Pro Tip: Get a locate to ensure there are no utilities located below the project area. If you are laying a circular patio, place a stake in the center of your project space.

Use that string as a guide and spray a circle border. Next, create a square corner to work from using string, stakes, and the method.

You may be wondering, what does that mean? Choose the height that you want the finished project to be and adjust your string lines to grade. We chose the base of the structure to be our top height. As a general rule, adjust the strings so that they are sloped away from any structure to allow proper drainage away from the building. To learn more about the specific measurements to use, read our tutorial, How to Set Grade for Hardscape. We recommend excavating this deep because vehicular traffic requires a super sturdy base.

The deeper the base is excavated, the more gravel you can add and compact. Pro Tip: If you remove large debris and are left with large divots do not backfill with dirt. Instead, backfill those depressions with gravel and hand tamp them before laying geotextile.

Now, lay geotextile down over the soil. This base material is great for all kinds of patio pavers, but you should make sure to pick crushed stone specifically meant for paver installation.

This is because a compacted soil base can allow the pavers to shift or sink unless the soil is properly compacted and cleared from weeds and grass. Stone dust is a base material that you should avoid if you can due to several reasons. Do I need sand under pavers? Installing driveway or patio pavers without sand is not a good idea because the sand base serves as the main stabilizing material for your pavers. Without sand, the pavers are likely to shift and sink over time, resulting in an uneven and messy surface.

The sand keeps the pavers in place, preventing unnecessary replacements and repairs, as well as keeping your patio free from tripping hazards. How many inches of sand do I need for pavers?