Many times we see people lay some blocks to cover some area of their land so that you can easily walk on them. These pavers turn your ordinary outdoor space into a wonderful area to roam around. You can put an easy chair there and relax for hours.

Laying 12×12 Pavers

While you are laying patio pavers in your backyard, you would need some instruments and equipment to do the work perfectly. Here are the steps and the easy ways to install a patio paver in your background.

  • First of all, choose the area where you want to install the pavers. Take the measurement of the area and then accordingly you have to make the plan for the task.
  • Now it is the turn to buy the pavers. You will see different types of pavers in terms of shape, size, color, and price. Now you need to figure out the number of blocks you need to buy and of what shape. It is always better to consult a professional about the arrangement of the blocks as you can arrange these blocks in different ways.
  • Now you need to purchase the supplies you need to install the pavers. You need some gravel and sand to make the base of the paver. Along with it, you may require a cutting tool on rent to give a perfect shape to the blocks so that they sit perfectly in the place.
  • The volume of the space that you are going to fill up with the pavers is measured in cubic feet or cubic yards. The depth of the place should be at least 4 inches and the base made by the gravel and the sand will fill another 1 or 1.5 inches.

Need of Extra Blocks

Always buy 10% extra blocks in the amount as they may break during the fitting and you need to cut some of them to fit some barriers. Now you need to check the underground utilities. You should locate and mark the lines on the ground where you are going to install the patio pavers.

  • Now dig the ground up to 6 to 8 inches and excavate the soil of that area. If you are going to install it on dirt, then you need to excavate the dirt from there. Put a layer of gravel that will be around 4 to 6 inches in thickness. Now use a ground compactor to press the gravel and make it compact.
  • It’s the time to add a fine layer of sand on the gravel and again run the compactor on it. The sand layer should not be more than 1 inch thick and it should be smooth enough to lay the blocks directly on them.
  • Now lay the pavers in the way you want. You can make it a zigzag way or a simple square pattern. Always be careful about the layers of the blocks. If one of them is out of the layer then press it to set it there. You may cut the blocks with an oscillating tool to fit them according to space.
  • You have to put an edging around the whole area so that the paver doesn’t get out of the track.

Laying Pavers without Base

You always don’t need to lay the paver on the gravel base. Other than that, you can install a paver on the concrete surface. The strong concrete slabs save you from removing the concrete and it also contributes to a strong and long-lasting base for the paver. To put the paver on concrete you need to check for any pits or breaks on it. Now lay a layer of sand of about 1-inch thickness or a base of mortar of ½ inch. Now set the blocks in the sand and the mortar and put an edge to restrain them from getting unlined.

Laying Pavers without Sand

It is not always mandatory to lay a layer of sand too to install pavers. You can lay them directly on the dirt. The dirt will decompose and will fit the blocks into their own way. You won’t have to spend much on the labor charge and digging the area also. Just lay down some weed barrier so that no weed can grow and ruin the lining of the blocks.

Can You Lay Pavers Directly on Dirt?

Yes, you can. You just need a good drainage system over there and put some weed barrier between the blocks.

How Much a 20×20 Paver Cost?

A 20×20 paver patio will cost around $ 3,800 to $ 6,800 if you choose to go for the best one.

What is the Base Used for Pavers?

The gravel base is the best to use as pavers as it contains small chips of stone. They adjust the space between them and hold the blocks well.

Tips

  • Patio pavers are the best solution to make your backyard look good.
  • Lay a layer of gravel and sand as they can hold the blocks well and prevent them from breaking.
  • You can also lay the paver blocks directly on the dirt provided that place has a good drainage system.

How do you prepare ground for pavers?

Can you lay pavers directly on dirt?

Typically, it is not recommended to directly lay down pavers over dirt. For pavers to look and perform well in a permanent installation setting, the ground/dirt floor must be excavated, leveled, and hard compacted.

What do you put under pavers?

Start with the right base material to keep your pavers properly supported.
  1. Sand. A thick layer of sand below your pavers will cushion them while allowing water to flow through properly.
  2. Crushed Stone. Roughly crushed stone makes a good base for pavers that will be used more regularly.
  3. Stone Dust.
  4. Compacted Soil.

What to put down before laying pavers?

Sand Bedding

Before laying the pavers, a layer of bedding sand is placed over the compacted base material. This layer provides a bed into which the pavers are set. The sand bedding also helps to protect the sand joints from being eroded away. Lay down one inch diameter PVC pipe across the bass material.

How much does a 20×20 paver patio cost?

A 20×20 brick paver patio costs $3,800 to $6,800. The average cost of pavers and base materials is $4 to $6 per square foot, while labor runs $6 to $11 per square foot.

What is the best base for patio pavers?

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute recommends washed concrete sand as the best base sand for pavers. Concrete sand, also known as bedding sand, is coarse and doesn’t trap excess moisture beneath the paver surface.

Do you need landscape fabric under pavers?

Quick answer: no, landscape fabric will not prevent weeds in your stone patio–but there may be other reasons to consider using landscape fabric beneath your stone patio. Usually, you‘re fine without it, except for some special cases.

How much does a DIY paver patio cost?

The average price range is $50 to $80 per hour or $4 to $11 per square foot. Preparing the ground can take almost as much time as laying the pavers in some cases. A 300-square-foot patio would likely take 35 to 40 hours for a pro to complete, but 40 to 50 for a DIY project.

Can you put too much sand under pavers?

Amount. Plan on spreading about 1 inch of sand beneath the pavers, says Western Interlock. You‘ll also use it to fill the gaps between them. The sand should be spread over a 4- to 12-inch layer of crushed stone, which has been tamped into place.

Do you wet sand before laying pavers?

The layer of sand should be from one to one and a half inches thick. The sand also needs to be dry, not wet.

Should I compact sand before laying pavers?

Not compacting the base

Before laying bedding sand or pavers, your gravel base needs to be flat and firm, without any bellies or rises of more than 1/8″. In other words, a bumpy, uneven base will produce bumpy, uneven pavers.

Can I use regular sand between pavers?

Can I Use Regular Sand Between Pavers. Yes, normal sand serves this purpose very well. Fill gaps between pavers and help lock the individual blocks in place, so they don’t shift. If possible, use irregular, sharp-grained sand, as they have sharp edges and bind together better.

What is the difference between paver sand and polymeric sand?

Polymeric sand is a material used to fill paver joints, the empty spaces found between each paver, tile or natural stone. It is sometimes called jointing sand, paver sand or hardscape sand. Jointing sand is made up of fine grains, to which manufacturers add a mixture of specific additive particles.

Will water drain through polymeric sand?

What type of sand do I need to use between my pavers? Polymeric sand, if installed properly, will harden to lock you pavers in place and create a more effective weed and insect deterent while still allowing water to drain freely.

How do you stop weeds from growing between pavers?

White Vinegar

Pour the vinegar into an empty spray bottle and spray the breaks between the pavers, leaving it to sit and work its way into the sand. When a few hours have passed, rinse away the vinegar with a garden hose. This simple remedy will kill the weeds without damaging the pavers or damaging nearby plants.

How do you fill the gaps on a flagstone patio?

What sand should I use between pavers?

When compacted, the edges will grind together, “locking” the layer of sand in place which helps to prevent erosion or movement. Concrete sand works very well, however, mason sand is sometimes used instead. Neither of these types of sand, however, is the best fit for filling in paver joints.