How To Lay Pavers, Brick, Patio Stone and Stone Pavers

Begin past assessing what is currently in the project area where you intend to lay your new pavers. If y'all have a lot of sugar sand, you are going to want to remove as much as possible. If the water table is high in your area, or you accept h2o and/or flooding issues, the base of operations material depth will have to change. In Florida, we alive in dirt, sand, and if you lot are lucky you may have a lime rock bed under the area (which is unlikely). Therefore, you must accept precautionary measures to ensure your pavers will non neglect over time. Follow the unproblematic steps below to make sure your hard-scape lasts in our tropical climate.

1

Choosing your Pavers/Patio Stones:

Pavers, Patio Stones, Clay Brick, Turf Block, travertine, Natural Flagstone, Natural Keystone, Dumbo Oolite etc… are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, strengths, etc… At that place are different products to lucifer different applications. Here are a few "rules" to follow when choosing a hardscape for your project:

Thin pavers/brick are NEVER to be used for a driving surface. I don't care what you have heard, unless you take a specially engineered, loftier-strength, polymer production specifically designed to be driven on, you will ruin thin pavers/brick if you bulldoze on them. No matter if they are all mortared to a physical slab or have 12" of base under them, they will neglect.

For a driveway, y'all should install a minimum of a ii" thick paver/brick. They should exist approximately 7800psi+. If installing travertine, half-dozen"x12" should be the maximum size pieces used and MUST be laid in a ninety degree herring bone pattern Just. Some Natural Flagstone and Natural Cobble Stone is strong enough for driveway however the installation can exist difficult if the rock is non the same height. For walkways, any size patio stone, paver, brick, Keystone, Natural Flagstone, Dumbo Oolite etc… may be used, provided the proper underlayment has been installed.

Patio Stones are NEVER to be used for a driveway. They volition crack the first time you attempt to drive on them. Merely use in areas with pes traffic and be certain to use a rubber mallet to set them in place. DO NOT run a plate compactor over them later on installing as you would a typical paver. Patio Stones are typically merely 1200-1300psi.

2

Mark the Project Area Dimensions:

If your projection is foursquare or rectangular, drive a spike into each corner and draw a string line or spray paint the lines between the spikes to mark where you volition exist digging. For an irregularly shaped project, merely mark the edges with spray pigment or lay a garden hose along the outer edge to marker the area.

Place Form Stakes at the edges of the project expanse. Drive the stakes down until the pinnacle reaches the desired superlative of the new Paver Area. Later as you dig you describe a cord line between the stake, then Measure down to the desired depth to allow for the Paver Base Cloth. Make sure that you slope your new project so that h2o will run off were you want information technology and not into a garage or living room.

You need to remove most 8 inches of earth to install pavers and a base for them. This volition permit for v inches of Screenings, 1/2 inch of Diamond Sand, and the thickness of the paver, which is by and large about two 1/two; inches. If your pavers are thicker or thinner, change your excavation depth accordingly. As you dig, periodically place a string Line across the area from grade pale to grade pale, then measure downward to check the excavation depth.

You need to remove trees, shrubs, grass, roots, concrete etc… from the area you intend to install your new hard scape. It is important to make sure y'all have removed all organic matter from the area. Organic material will break down over fourth dimension and create air pockets in the substrate. The void volition somewhen cave in, causing your pavers to cavern every bit well. Brand sure you lot permit for the proper corporeality of base, sand, mortar, etc… and so the elevation of the finished product reaches the desired acme when installation is consummate.

Do not confuse "base of operations" with "sand." Sand alone is NEVER a good base fabric. Typical base materials mutual in our surface area are: Crushed Concrete (Concrete Screening), Lime Rock Screening, and sometimes finely crushed beat if your projection requires a permeable base. Trounce has faded out as a base for the most part as screenings are cheaper and provide a stronger, measurable base. Screenings come in various sizes, the well-nigh common (and what we stock) is 3/8" minus Concrete and Lime Rock. This size base will suffice for most residential and commercial applications unless otherwise specified.

The base must be laid a minimum of 3" no matter what the application and must exist packed to qualify a 95% plus. We recommend 3" for foot traffic and five-vi" for bulldoze/parking areas. The depth tin can vary based on building weather. Lime and Physical Screening perform slightly unlike from each other. While both pack very hard, concrete screening will permit a small corporeality of drainage while lime will not.

When you begin laying the base, slightly moisten the sub-class (which at this point should exist clean, graded make full clay) and lay 3" of base. If using a hand tamper or plate compactor (most common), you cannot lay more than than iii" at a time without compacting. If using a jumping jack or riding rolling automobile, y'all tin can lay information technology deeper before packing. Keep in mind however the deeper you lot lay the material, the more difficult it is to pack as the automobile will bury itself in the loose material. Moisten, Practise NOT SOAK/SATURATE the Base Material. So run your machine across the base of operations in all dissimilar directions until it glides beyond the surface without sinking in.

Most people accept a number of misconceptions most how, when and where to use sand when laying pavers. Sand is Not a base textile. After your base is compacted, lay ½" of Diamond Sand maximum. This volition give you a prissy, flat surface to work off of as the base of operations will not be "perfectly flat." The biggest misconception about sand is that by sweeping it in the joints after laying the pavers, that is volition lock the design in place. This is simply not truthful. The sand laid between the base and the paver is what locks the pattern in place. That said, y'all practice not want to lay more than ½" (Diamond Sand). Remember, sand is as well dense to pack and will always shift and motility. Information technology will, notwithstanding, create a solid "absorber" when caught between two hard surfaces such as base and a paver. Later laying your pavers, place some other ½" of Sand (This fourth dimension Using Mason Sand) across the surface of the paver and run your plate compactor upwards and down, side to side and diagonally across the freshly laid pavers.

This layer of sand will act iii-fold. First, information technology will act as a lubricant to help the compactor slide beyond the pavers. Second, information technology volition act as a barrier between the compactor and paver so the plate doesn't scratch or crack the surface of the newly laid pavers. 3rd, your pavers will accept a nice sand-swept articulation after the backlog sand is removed. Detect that we recommend ii types of Sand, Diamond Sand (Course Sand) for the superlative 1/ii" of the base, then Mason Sand (Fine Sand) beyond the surface and between the pavers.

Prepare to order supplies?

After all the prep work is done start placing your pavers in the sand, using your straight edge every bit a guide. Butt the pavers close together. There should still be a thin joint line between the pavers that volition be filled with sand subsequently. Use a direct edge to ensure Paver are level. Utilise a rubber mallet to knock down any high pavers. Add more Diamond Sand and reset whatsoever depression pavers. If y'all were diligent leveling the sand, you should but take a minimal amount of leveling at this stage.

eight

Laying pavers over an existing slab:

First mortar your soldier (perimeter) pavers around the edge, keeping a consistent ½" articulation. Then, lay a ½" of Diamond Sand in the field. It is imperative to lay a sand bed downwards to create a buffer betwixt the pavers and the concrete slab. Pavers rubbing confronting physical volition eventually vesture down and/or crack. This will also shine out any imperfections the slab may accept had. Laying pavers over an existing driveway is not recommended, no matter the size.

If you lot are installing more than 1 pallet it is a adept practice to pull Brick from several different pallets every bit you work through your projection. If there are slight color variations, this practice will help to minimize whatever noticeable deviation.

You may need to cut pavers forth the edges of your project. A diamond blade works well to cutting through Pavers. You tin can utilize a common circular saw with a diamond bract, or a four-inch angle grinder with a diamond blade, however, the easiest and safest way is with a brick saw. It's like a big chop saw with a diamond blade.

You lot can also use a hammer and chisel to cut pavers. This is the onetime-fashioned way, only it still works today. If you lot only have to cut a few pieces and do not want the hassle and added expense of renting a saw, a hammer and chisel volition exercise simply fine.

11

Concrete Restraining Edge:

After pavers are installed, there must exist a restraining edge put in place to keep the pattern from spreading and your projection from falling autonomously. Nosotros recommend a concrete restraining edge. There are few unlike products on the market, merely concrete is tried, tested and proven to last in the harsh conditions we take here in Florida. Steel rusts, plastic splits and cracks and sod is soft.

A mini "footer" can exist dug with a manus shovel along the edge of the un-restrained pavers approximately three" wide and 3" deep. Lay mixed physical in the footer, coming half style up the paver. Strike the mud, fishing it down away from the paver from top to bottom. This will provide a clean, smooth, potent border that volition look good and last.

12

Laying pavers over an existing slab:

First mortar your soldier (perimeter) pavers around the edge, keeping a consistent ½" joint. And so, lay a ½" of Diamond Sand in the field. It is imperative to lay a sand bed down to create a buffer between the pavers and the concrete slab. Pavers rubbing against concrete will eventually clothing downward and/or crack. This will besides smooth out any imperfections the slab may have had. Laying pavers over an existing driveway is non recommended, no affair the size.

Sealing:

Sealing hardscapes is a swell mode to add longevity to your project. Information technology is particularly important to seal Portland based materials as they are porous and collect stains much easier than clay or natural stone. Sealing is essential around pools to keep grit out of pumps. Staining will as well "raise" the color of your hardscape. There are a number of dissimilar sealers on the market. Acrylic and h2o base of operations are the most common, coming in a range of gloss from ten-100, measured in increments of ten. Nosotros recommend a good acrylic base (such as Tuf Pinnacle). Tuf Top is a medium 50-60 Gloss.

There are a couple of of import steps to follow before using an acrylic sealer. Offset, you MUST make sure the pavers are VERY dry. If you utilise an acrylic sealer on a damp/wet surface, the sealer volition turn hazy white and ruin the surface of the pavers. At that indicate, it would be cheaper to replace the pavers than to effort and get the sealer off. That said, a simple test will tell whether it is safety to seal your project. Have a regular plastic garbage bag and cut it up into a couple of good size pieces. Lay the pieces of plastic on the pavers in random areas, especially any shaded areas, in the heat of the afternoon. Put some brick or something heavy on top of it to hold information technology flat to the surface of the pavers. Wait about 30 minutes and pull upwardly the plastic. If there is whatsoever moisture on the underside of the plastic, Do NOT Effort to seal. Wait and do some other examination the following day to see if they accept dried out enough.

2d, employ the sealer using a tight nap roller comprehend. You CANNOT spray acrylic sealer (most brands anyway) from a pump sprayer. It must be rolled on in light coats, 7-viii hours apart (times vary depending on conditions conditions). Before offset the 2nd coat, bear on the surface of the pavers with your fingertips. If it feels "tacky," exercise not attempt to put the 2d glaze on withal. Expect until they don't feel sticky and then roll on the second coat. Do not soak the roller embrace with sealer. You want to apply multiple light coats so the sealer doesn't leave streaks. Apply a minimum of two coats. Water based sealers tin can exist used immediately but traditionally practice not last as long and must exist re-applied more often. Besides, the higher the gloss the improve the chance of getting streaks.

Clay Brick, Patio Stone, and Pavers

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