PAVER INSTALLATIONS (STEP BY STEP GUIDE)

This process demonstrates how to lay a basic precast paving stone walkway or patio. For large projects, it's important to consult a soils engineer to evaluate whether your soil is prone to abnormal expansion and contraction due to water holding capacity. The most problematic is clay, and to compensate for its plasticity, you may need to lay thicker base material or add a geo-textile layer.
 

1. Prepare siteRemove all existing plants, lawn and constructed elements down to the level of undisturbed soil. Excavate down to the depth dictated by the design plan for the project. This is calculated as finish grade less the depth of paver, sand, and gravel layers. Excavation can range from just 6" for walkways and patios to as much as 18" for driveways.

2. Compact subgradeThis step ensures that the exposed soil is compacted to at least 95% or higher if the surface is to accommodate vehicular traffic. This is doubly important where the building pad is elevated or composed of cut and fill because there can be loose layers deeper down that can settle later on causing a depression in your paving. Special power equipment is necessary to achieve this compaction rate in heavy soils.

3. Lay geotextileThis is special fabric designed to help prevent deep soil disturbance due to freeze-thaw or over saturation. It is not necessary on all projects, but provides greater insurance against unexpected changes in subgrade.

4. Spread base materialThe average residential project for pedestrian use is a 4 to 6 inch deep layer of gravel, but this can vary considerably from one project location to the next. Above this may be a two inch layer of coarse sand or very fine gravel that provides the setting bed for pavers.

5. Edge restraintsThese products made of flexible PVC are designed to hold the base material layer in place so it does not erode away and allow the outside pavers to tip. Staked into place, it is an essential product that provides the most cost effective way of keeping a paving stone patio as crisp as the day it was built. Larger heavier restraints will be required for driveways to accommodate the weight of vehicles. Some projects may require more elaborate concrete or edge paver installation.

6. Bedding sandThis layer of concrete sand is spread no thicker than 1.5 inches. It is screeded to create a perfectly level base for the pavers. This step requires attention to detail ensuring the entire paved surface is perfectly leveled. the preference is for more expensive polymeric sand, which is valued for preventing ants from tunneling through joints and creating mounds on the surface. It's also better for resisting weeds. Due to the local availability of finely crushed local granite, this provides a lower cost ant-resistant alternative due to the sharp edges.

7. Lay paversString lines or chalk lines may be required to install the pavers. Spacing may be dictated by spacer bars formed into each paver, otherwise a gap of 1/16" to 3/16" is required between each paver. When the pattern results in irregular gaps at the final edges of a vehicular surface, it is a rule of thumb not to cut pavers to sizes any smaller than one third of a whole paver.

8. Sand and sweepUse dry joint sand to spread over the finished paving and sweep it into the gaps between pavers, then compact the entire surface to work it in deeper and add more sand until joints are adequately filled For large projects, a mechanical device may be used to speed the process and provide additional compaction, particularly for vehicular surfaces.

9. Seal paversA penetrating acrylic sealer with a mat surface is recommended to keep paver color from fading and to prevent stains. It will require reapplication in the future to maintain the beauty of the paving, particularly in areas with snow, hard water or surfaces for vehicles.

PAVERS PATTERNS

Choosing pavers for your landscape project opens the door to many pattern and design options (get paver design tips for walkways, patios and driveways). Although it is common to use mortar, it is not a requirement; you can use gravel, sand, or even types of grasses or moss to fill in between. Many patterns have become well known and used not only because of their unique look, but also for their strength. Below you can view the 5 most popular paving patterns and tips for choosing the right pattern to enhance your outdoor living space.

Circular Pattern This pattern is achieved by laying the paver rows in a circular formation. Although the pavers will have small spaces in between, they are easily filled with mortar or sand. This pattern is known to look best when mixed throughout other patterns such as herringbone, basket weave or even running bond. You do not have to create a full circle with this pattern; you can create half, or even a quarter of the circle pattern. The circular pattern is often used in large driveways or patio areas; it breaks up large spaces by adding interest and complementing other elements in the area.

Herringbone Pattern Pavers are laid going alternate directions creating a "V" shape. This pattern can be laid at 45 or 90 degrees and is often used in large to medium sized entertainment areas. This pattern has a strong visual effect and adds character to any outdoor space. You can also mix your design with clay pavers in between or as a border to create a nice detail. The herringbone pattern is known for its strength and durability, it is highly recommended in areas with heavy traffic or furniture. Driveways, patios, and walkways are the ideal areas to lay this pattern.

Basket Weave Pattern Originating from the old English landscape design era this is a well-known pattern that will bring a vintage look to your area. The pavers in this pattern alternate between vertical and horizontal pairs. The paired pavers create rows and columns that have an eye catching effect. You don't have to stick with one color; you can get creative with this pattern by adding contrasting or complementary colors as well. This pattern is ideal for homeowners looking for a historic or vintage look, however it is becoming less common compared to the other patterns. The basket weave is also very durable and is perfect for nearly every location of your outdoor space.

European Fan Pattern You can see this popular fan pattern all across Europe, which is where it originated from. This pattern along with the circular pattern is known to be the most challenging pattern to lay. We recommend using circular and fan kits which are usually available through paver manufacturers. Although it is challenging to start, it is one of the most beautiful paving patterns and highly popular in residential and even commercial designs. This pattern gives you flexibility with the size of the fan and the color of the pavers.

Running Bond Pattern This is the most common pattern used among homeowners today. Why? Because it is the simple pattern to lay, easy to install, and uses the least amount of waste compared to the other patterns. Running bond is laid side by side creating illusions with its strong linear lines. These illusions can make your patio look longer or even wider depending on the direction it's laid. This is the most plain paver pattern, but needs minimal cutting which lowers the amount of work and the cost of installation. Running Bond is perfect for small areas-making them seem bigger, and also for areas close to the house to draw attention to your homes architecture.

Be sure to choose your paver patterns carefully because they can drastically impact the look and feel of your outdoor living space. Simple, geometric patterns will work best for a modern garden. Random or irregular patterns work great in a space with Mediterranean or Tuscan style landscape. Curved or circular designs look especially nice around a water fountain or fire pit.
When selecting paver patterns and designs, it is important to think about your yards existing conditions and the effect you with to create. For example, if you want to make it feel bigger, select large, smooth paver and a simple, straight pattern. Small paver are great for creating beautiful designs and work well in large open yards, but in small spaces they will create a busy surface that will make your patio feel even smaller.
Paver ShapesThe most common paver shapes are square, round, rectangular, and hexagonal. Patterns often have multiple shapes in one design making the pattern more intricate bringing character to your home. Below you can see standard dimensions for the common paver shapes.

Square

Round

Rectangle

Hexagonal

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PAVERS (PAVING)

Contemporary landscapes have become a showcase of manufactured paving stones valued for their low cost and long term durability. They originated in Europe after the war when an affordable unit paver was needed to rebuild streets that would hold up far longer than poured concrete or asphalt. While brick was well established, this clay based product was not as easy to manufacture and while it remains part of this materials group, the majority of these products are primarily concrete based.

The beauty of precast paving stones is that they can stand alone on a sand or gravel base without mortar. They are small enough to be moved and hand set without special equipment. Some designs are ideal for permeable paving that complies with the zero runoff building codes.
In the urban environment, precast paving stones can be taken up to make subgrade repairs of streets and sidewalks, then replaced without the added cost of new paving materials. Solid paving as every American knows, becomes a nightmare when repairs are required due to extensive demolition required to remove original street surface. This combined with the machinery and forming necessary before new concrete or asphalt can be laid makes pavers a much more affordable and sustainable choice for both urban streets and residential yards
Precast paving stones caught on in landscapes early on due to affordability and versatility. The majority of these fall into one or more categories:
Interlocking pavers: These manufactured paving stones can be obtained in a wide range of shapes and colors coordinated to produce a paving pattern once installed. Such patterns are so visually appealing they may be preferred over more expensive stone and tile.
Precast unit pavers: Ordinary precast pavers produce a surface with crisp, uniformly shaped units such as squares or brick-like rectangles in various sizes.
Tumbled precast unit pavers: Precast unit pavers are tumbled at the factory to produce a more natural looking surface. Tumbled pavers can suggest a more aged appearance that more accurately mimics the look of hewn stone. Tumbled pavers also offer a softer edge that may prove safer in high activity areas such as swimming pool decks and adjacent to sports courts.
Open Cell pavers: These are specially made unit pavers designed to allow water to drain through openings in the paver itself, or through those set into the edges that result in increased flow through the joints. While designed to increase permeability in parking lots, they are equally valuable for zero runoff homesite paving.
Turf pavers: This unique precast paver was developed to allow emergency equipment to drive over lawn, typically to provide fire lanes to multifamily housing without paving the entire surface. They are also used for overflow parking. Turf pavers are often cast in a lattice texture that provides openings large enough for turf to grow throughout.
Stone pavers: These are remnants of pre-war pavements created out of rough hewn stone squares that once replaced cobblestones. While approximately the same size as precast concrete units, they are vastly more expensive due to the labor required to render stone into identical units.