Step 1: Gather and source your tools and materials needed for a DIY paver patio construction project.
Steps #1 through #9 also hold true not only for paver patios, but also paver walkways and paver driveways!
Rubber mallets are strong enough to move the pavers without breaking them.
Tools and gear needed for building
- gloves for handling pavers (Your hands will thank you, especially in the cold!)
- spade shovel
- edging shovel (A heavy straight edge shovel works best, not a transfer shovel.)
- hand tamp
- plate compactor (Unless you want to hand tamp the whole area, you can rent this from your local hardware store!)
- hard rake (Use this rake upside down to smooth the sand before screeding.)
- steel pipes (at least qty2; 3/4″ diameter galvanized steel in either 5 ft or 10 ft pieces)
- The poor man’s method is to use pvc pipe but it flexible, so use at your own risk!
- magnesium screed bar
- People also use a 2×4 piece of wood for screeding, but they are much heavier and be careful to choose a perfectly straight one!
- push broom (wide and hard-bristled)
- leaf blower (small handheld is fine)
- garden hose (with end attachment that produces a light shower)
Use a level across the pavers to avoid any unevenness.
TIP: “Screeding” is the process of leveling a material, as in “screeding” the sand to level the pavers. A screed bar is one of the most vital tools needed for a paver patio.
Now that you have your tools, here are the MATERIALS that you’ll need:
- landscape fabric (preferably woven)
- ABC (This is a type of crushed gravel, and people sometimes call it “crusher run”.)
- sand (C-33 sand works best. This is a type of concrete sand. Some people and contractors use granite fines instead of sand for screeding, but these can cause drainage problems later on.)
- pavers, of course!
- polymeric sand
- paver edging restraints with spikes (You can also form a concrete edge restraint, preferable for driveways.)
- Gator Shampoo
Ok, so you are good on tools and materials needed for constructing a paver patio. Now where to buy….
- Site One Landscape Supply* sells a variety of pavers. They carry in-stock inventory of the big name brands such as Belgard*, Techo-Bloc*, Pavestone*, and more. Conveniently, they also sell bulk c-33 sand, ABC, and all of the other products needed to build a solid paver patio. Site One predominantly sells to contractors, but don’t worry; they sell to residential clients as well. If you’re a business, you can save big with Site One. The more you buy, the more you save.
- Home Depot* (and Lowe’s*) also carry pavers but on a much smaller scale than Site One. Home Depot can order almost anything though, and you can save with a “Pro” type account.
- Go directly to Belgard and Techo-Bloc’s website and they will direct you to suppliers near you who carry their product.
Quick Summary
To summarize, constructing a paver patio requires the right tools. Furthermore, having all of your materials ready and knowing where to purchase them makes your job easier. But how much do you purchase? Don’t worry. In the next step, we’ll explain how to easily calculate the amount of materials you need.
Congratulations! You have completed step #1. Now it’s time to move on to step #2: Determine location and size for the paver patio.
