In general, if your project area isn’t too irregularly shaped, you can safely calculate how many pavers you need by simply measuring the square footage of the footprint and adding 5%. If your design has a lot of curves, get an extra 10% over your best square footage estimate. You should order a bit extra because you’ll almost certainly end up having to cut some of the pavers to get the right fit. The fancier your outline, the more pavers you’ll have to cut. Keep in mind that pavers are extremely heavy. It is best to have them delivered for this reason. There may be a pallet fee as well. There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for pavers. For instance, pavers can range in price from quite affordable to quite pricey, so it’s important to set a realistic budget before beginning your search. Make sure to think about the surface you’re paving over and its intended use. For example, driveways require a sturdier, heavier paver that can support cars driving over it.
Drive a stake at the high point, and mark the correct height where the pavers will meet the door or structure. Tie a string around the stake at that height. Drive a stake (if there isn’t already one) at the outer boundary of your project. This will be your lowest point. Attach a line level to your string and then tie the loose end of the string around the outer stake at the height at which the line level tells you the entire string is level. Now from that line move down the stake at least 1/8" per linear foot (e. g. if it is 8 feet from your front door to the outer edge of your patio, move down the stake 1"), and draw a new line. Move your string down to this line. String cross-lines down the length of the project to ensure you mark the correct depth across the entire project. If your project area has a variety of slopes, or if your design is irregular, you’ll need to repeat this process in several points. It is absolutely critical that you get the slope right, so the more stakes, the better. You may want to consider hiring someone who knows how to use a transit or laser level and measuring rod. They can achieve the same results in less time. Make sure to remove the string before you start digging, or you may end up tripping on it.
Also, try to level and smooth out the soil where the paver edging will go. You can also spread the base material a little past where the edging will be and then flatten it out using a compactor or hand tamping tool. Then, install the edging firmly. Measure the depth of your excavation from the string you used to track your slope, not from the surface of the ground.
Be sure to lay base material beyond the planned boundaries of the pavers. Laying the base outside the boundaries of the pavers will make your project more stable. Continue adding base material and then compacting every 2 inches (5. 1 cm) until you are about 3 inches (7. 6 cm) from your desired finish height. When compacting, be sure to maintain a gentle slope — usually away from your house.
Check to see if a weed barrier or weed blocker fabric will be used first. Most often these materials are placed on the soil before the base goes down.
Do not walk on your prepared sand. Stand on the pavers you have already installed and work your way out. Don’t get too close to the edge of the pavers you’ve installed, or you might disturb the sand in front of them.
If there are any gaps between the pavers, then you can sweep polymeric sand into all the joints until they are about half full. This will keep the pavers from shifting during plate compaction. If the pavers are loose when you are compacting them, then they may become uneven. When you are compacting the material and pavers, always try to go in different directions or patterns. Be sure to use a protective covering, such as a heavy gunnysack, over your plate compactor when you compress the pavers in order to avoid scuffing.
Use a large push broom for a large area, or a small push broom for a small area. Sweep in many different directions.
Don’t use too much water when cleaning the pavers and make sure that they are completely dry before applying the sealant.
