DO-IT-YOURSELF PATIOS & PATHWAYS
| PLANNING AND LAYOUT
1. OUTLINE the patio perimeter using a garden hose for curved areas and long 2 x 4s for straight sections.
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| 2. REMOVE SOD in an area extending 8 in.
beyond the boundaries of the patio. Spray paint indicates the excavation
line.
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| EXCAVATING THE SITE AND BUILDING THE BASE
3. USE A LEVEL, a 2 x 4 and stakes to determine the slope of the patio. Slope of 1 in. per 4 to 8 ft. away from house is ideal. Run stakes and a grid of the string to mark the top of finished patio, then excavate 7-½ in. below strings.
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| 4. SPREAD CLASS 5 subbase to a depth of 4 in.
over the entire patio area and 8 in. beyond. Measure down from guide
strings to establish uniform height of subbase.
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| 5. TAMP THE SUBBASE using a flat-plate
vibrator (rented at $40 a day). Work in a circular motion and compact the
area twice.
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| THE ESSENTIAL EDGING
6. INSTALL THE EDGING on the tamped subbase using 8" - 10" spikes. Cut the webbing on the edging's back side to make it flex for curves.
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| 7. INSTALL LANDSCAPE TIMBERS for edging in
areas where you need to change levels or step down. Be certain to overlap
corners.
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| SPREADING SAND
8. SPREAD AND LEVEL a 1-in. bed of sand over compacted subbase. Pipes provide a guide for dragging the 2 x 4 screed board across.
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| 9. INSTALL THE PAVERS starting along the
longest, straightest edge. Border pavers provide a crisp finished edge,
especially along curved portions of patio.
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| PAVE AWAY
10. CONTINUE LAYING PAVERS using a layout string to keep them in line as you work. Put a gap between pavers or top them tighter to stay in line.
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| 11. MARK PAVERS that run "wild"
into the border area. Then remove the paver, cut to size and place back in
position along the border paver.
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| 12. USE HALF PAVERS for bordering tight
circles. Smaller pavers cut down on the size of the pie-shaped gaps
between each piece.
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| 13. CUT PAVERS on masonry saw. Saw has a
built-in sliding carriage for moving pavers past the blade. Recirculating
water keeps blade cool and lubricated.
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| 14. TAMP THE PATIO with a flat-plate vibrator
after all the pavers are installed. Tamp entire outside edge first, then
circle in.
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| SWEEPING AND UPKEEP
15. SWEEP COARSE, DRY SAND between crack of pavers to lock them together and fill voids. Repeat with more dry sand in a few days.
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| 16. LANDSCAPE around the completed patio with
flowers, shrubs and grass. Grass will root through the open spaces in
flexible edging to anchor it in place.
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PATHWAYS
A pathway can be part of a larger project or a project in itself. A walkway made from pavers is an attractive way to link your driveway to your front door, existing deck to new patio, or back door to garden floor.
| SMOOTH AND LEVEL the sand using a notched
screed board riding along the edging for a guide. Include a slight tilt
for good drainage.
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| INSTALL THE BORDER, marking and cutting every
other paver at an angle at curved areas.
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| LAY THE PAVER using the string for a
guideline. Cut and install pieces that butt up to the border later.
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