Sort and stack pavers for quick access as your install progresses.
Paver Patio Overview
So you’re thinking about building a paver patio? Everyone seems to be wanting pavers these days. Home builders are offering and building paver patios and paver walkways as options to upgrade. You may be familiar with the standard square concrete slab off the back house door. Pavers provide a more attractive alternative to concrete. Are you a homeowner DIYer toying around with the idea of installing pavers on your own? You may be a landscape contractor looking for extra tips so that you can expand your business. Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
This tutorial will provide the best, most proven process for building a beautiful paver patio. Nobody wants to build something (or have built for them) a patio or walkway that is sinking in spots after a year or two! Can you do it correctly yourself? Well…..only you can answer that question! After reading, you will know whether you want to hire the job out or accept the challenge of building a paver patio yourself.
What are Pavers?
First and foremost, let’s discuss what pavers are not. One builds walls with blocks or stones, not pavers. Pavers differ from tiles. Tiles are used mostly indoors and sometimes outdoors but are much thinner. Tiles are installed using thin set material and most of the time are not exposed to the elements. Pavers are not real stone but are manufactured concrete and are meant to be installed as a walking (or driving) surface. They are usually between 2 inches and 3 inches thick as opposed to much thinner tile. Alternatively, pavers are sometimes used as stepping stones. Most of the time, however, many paver units comprise an entire patio area, driveway or walking path. This tutorial describes the latter.
7 Steps for Building a Paver Patio – Overview
- Tools and materials needed for building; where to view and purchase your paver product (step 1)
- Location and size (step 2)
- Preparation and excavation (step 3)
- Preparing the paver patio or walkway base (step 4)
- Screeding the sand (step 5)
- Laying the pavers (step 6)
- Installing the polymeric sand (step 7)