DIY Adventures: How do You Install Patio Pavers?
Do's and Don'ts of Installing Patio Pavers
DO map out your project area. Make sure you have your patio site properly measured, leveled, and marked. Taking the time to prepare your site properly will save you quite a bit of trouble and backtracking later on down the line.DON'T just "guesstimate." Laying pavers sounds simple enough, but while the actual labor of laying the pavers may be simple, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is when they don't properly plan their project in advance. Don't just eyeball the project. Take the time to map it out and always think in the long term! This new installation will be there for a while.
DO work with a reputable supplier who makes great pavers. Not all paver manufacturers and suppliers are created equal, and not all paver products are equal in quality either. One of the reasons homeowners choose pavers as a backyard design option is that they're made to last for a very long time. Pick a supplier like Belgard, Cambridge, or Techno-Bloc that promises their pavers will last for decades to come.
DON'T cut corners in the installation process. Each step to creating a paver patio is essential and there for a reason. Also, plan on making the site larger than you think it will need to be. Here's an area where you literally can't cut corners! The base material should extend past any paved edges, so if you are building a 20'x10' patio, you should excavate a total area of 21' by 11'.
DO compact base layers at 3" intervals. Most plate compactors can only compact 3"-4" of material at a time. Pour about 3" of gravel into your base, compact it, then pour in another 3", compact it, and so on. Take your time with the compactor and be sure to compact in intervals of 3". Your pavers will stay in place for years into the future because you took your time compacting your base layers.
DON'T compact your bedding sand overly much. Some experts disagree and feel you should compact your sand layer just as much as your gravel layer. However, when your sand layer is still a bit loose, the pavers can set and secure themselves within the sand more easily.
That wraps up our DIY Pro Tips on how to enclose a patio. We hope you found it helpful!
Your Patio Pavers Experts
During this DIY adventure, if you get stuck and give up, we want you to know that Moss Landscaping is here for you and we'd gladly come out, take over and build you a space you'll love, at a price you can afford.Just give us a call: 908-725-7536
