Do-It-Yourself Paver Installation
Deciding to lay paving stones yourself is not something to be entered into lightly. A professionally trained crew with all the proper machinery and tools necessary for the installation typically can install a paving stone driveway or patio pavers in a matter of days. For the do-it-yourselfer, this could turn into weeks.
(A video of an entire driveway installation is available in our video section) |
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Paving Stones
Paving stones are pavers made from either concrete or clay. They are set in sand rather than mortar. Mortar binds them together and prevents motion. Setting pavers in sand provides some mobility and thus cracking seldom occurs. This also makes them earthquake resistent and allows easy repair by simply removing and replacing a stone. Driveway pavers out perform mortar set stones and brick in durability, strength and flexibility (the ability to resist cracking).
Driveway and Patio Planning
There are many requirements that must be considered when planning to pave your patio, driveway, pool area, etc. The specific criteria may not necessarily agree with local codes and regulations. If no local codes or regulations exist, refer to the minimum standards of the F.H.A. or V.A. requirements.
Paver Installation - Do It Yourself
For a simple square or rectangle paving stone patio, you can follow the basic installation steps below. However, we highly suggest you contact a professional if you have anything more complicated in mind, especially if it requires stone cutting for intricate patterns.
1. Choose your paving stone design - One of the great things about pavers is that they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. This gives you many different options for your design.
2. Excavate the area where the stones are to be placed.
3. Install Class 2 base material (a certified gravel that has the correct percentage of large ¾" gravel, medium, small and fines - this ensures high compaction).
4. Compact the base.
5. Place an inch sand bed, using sharp-edged sand.
6. Set the pavers on the sand bed in the desired pattern.
7. Restrain the pavers around the perimeter.
8. Compact the pavers into the sand bed. The pavers actually are forced into the sand bed and will drop about 3/8".
9. Fill the joints with sand from the top. The type of sand that is used is very important. Irregular sharp sand should be used. The sand is what actually creates the interlock not the shape of the paver. Thus sharp irregular sand makes it difficult for one paving stone to move in relation to another. Pavers are made with spacers on their sides. This allows room for sand to go between each paver. Imagine rubbing two pieces of paper together...they would move rather easily. Now rub two pieces of sand paper together - big difference. That is what is happening between two pavers that are set in sand when there is room for the sand to get between the pavers. (Homeowners often want to fill the space between the pavers with more expensive silica sand. This is like putting ball bearings between the two pavers, which now permits them to move much easier).
10. Compact the pavers again with a vibrating plate compacter. The process forces more sand between the joints. This is the final compaction. The result is the surface now acts as one unit to resist loads placed on it.
11. Hose down the pavers and clean up. A small amount of sand will come out each time that you hose down your patio or driveway. This is not a significant amount and will not result in the pavers needing to be re-sanded. After a year or so the sand joints will become naturally sealed by dirt and dust that settles into the joints.
12. Seal the stone - This can be done the next day after the pavers have dried. Sealing brings out the color in the stone, makes it a bit easier for stains to be cleaned up, and hardens the sand between the joints.
If you would like personal assistance, contact us and one of our experienced designers will personally meet with you to plan and design exactly the paver installation you want. They will help you select the paving stone (pavers) colors, shapes, and style that will instantly increase your home's value and curb appeal. And for much less than our competitors!
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