Home Improvement
Outdoors
Preparing the ground and installation in 10 easy DIY steps
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Updated on 05/04/24
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier
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Reviewed byDeane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.
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In This Article
Before You Begin
Safety
When to Call a Pro
Cost
FAQ
Project Overview
- Working Time:1 - 2 days
- Total Time:3 - 5 days
- Yield:10-foot by 10-foot patio
- Skill Level:Intermediate
- Estimated Cost:$500 to $1,500
Learning how to lay pavers is one of the quickest and easiest ways to install a patio and transform your outdoor space.
Patio pavers can be compared to stone and brick since all are long-lasting, durable, and low-maintenance. Concrete pavers come in many colors and textures that simulate natural stone or brick. Unlike poured concrete slabs, you can lay an entire patio using pavers yourself.
These instructions outline the easiest way to lay pavers, whether for a walkway, a backyard patio, or around the pool.
Tip
Buy pavers by the pallet and have them delivered to your home close to the installation area. Buying in bulk is typically cheaper than buying pavers individually.
Before You Begin
Install the pavers on a base of gravel or crushed rock, followed by sand. The base material should be 3/4-inch minus construction gravel or crushed rock. The sand should be coarse sand delivered in bulk.
You'll also need fine sand for sweeping between the joints, but only one bag. So, you can pick that up on your own, if you like.
Safety Considerations
Moving large amounts of heavy materials can take a toll on your body. Use a wheelbarrow. When shoveling, lift from your legs, not your back. Wear breathing protection. Frequently spray the area with water to keep the dust down.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Hammer
- Shovel
- Two-by-four
- Tamper
- Wheelbarrow
- Rake
- Broom
- Carpenter's square
Materials
- Pavers
- Crushed rock base material
- 1 bag fine sand (10 pounds)
- Coarse bedding sand
- Garden hose
- Twine or thin rope
- Marking paint
- Wood stakes
- 2 metal pipes (3/4-inch)
Instructions
In yards with grass, all turf must be removed down to the soil. The dug-out area must be low enough to accommodate the patio's base layer of gravel and sand.
Create Layout
Lay out the general area with a garden hose to get a basic sense of space. Refine this layout by hammering in wood stakes and creating a shape with thin rope or twine. Ensure your lines are even, and use a carpenter's square to square up the corners.
Tip
Because masonry pavers are difficult to cut, it's often helpful to slightly adjust the patio's size to accommodate full-size pavers all the way across.
Calculate Materials to Buy
Determine the quantity of pavers, base material, and sand to purchase on the general shape. Measure the length by the width to arrive at the total square footage. Add 10-percent to account for expected wastage. The choice of the paver pattern affects how many pavers you need. For example, if you will be laying pavers on curves or diagonals, increase the excess to 15- to 20-percent.
Dig Out Turf and Soil
Remove the turf until you reach the soil below. Place the bubble level on the two-by-four to check for slope. Ensure the patio slopes down about 1 inch (vertically) per 48 inches (horizontally). You may need to transfer the soil or add sand to create a slope.
To make the pavers ground level, dig about 6 inches down to allow for 4 inches of base material, 1 inch of sand bedding, and the pavers' 1-inch thickness.
Smooth and Tamp Area
Use the shovel and the two-by-four to smooth out the area. Then, use the tamping tool to tamp down the soil.
Lay Base Material
Transfer the base material to the patio area. Spread the material with the shovel and rake. Screed the base material smooth with the two-by-four. Finish by tamping it firmly down.
Tip
Every so often, lightly spray the area with the garden hose to help the base material compact better and reduce dust.
Add Edging
Add the edge restraint of your choice to the base material. Some types of edging may need to be staked into the ground.
Lay Down Coarse Sand
Lay about 1 inch of the coarse (not fine) bedding sand. Be sure to keep the height even across the area, as this is the last layer; its height will determine the final height of the patio.
Tip
Keep the height consistent by pouring the sand over two parallel 3/4-inch pipes. Screed the two-by-four over the pipes. Carefully remove the pipes.
Cut Pavers
Cut the pavers with a masonry saw or an angle grinder fitted with a masonry disk. Wear hearing and breathing protection and safety glasses.
Lay Pavers
Lay the pavers on the coarse sand base. Keep the paver joints tight. Occasionally tamp the pavers by gently tapping them with a hammer. Soften the impact with a small piece of plywood or scrap two-by-four.
Add Sand to Joints
Toss a few handfuls of fine sand on the pavers. Sweep the sand into the joints. Sweep away any excess sand.
When to Call a Professional
Laying a patio is straightforward but handling the base materials and the pavers is strenuous, especially if you want to use large-format pavers (24 inches by 24 inches or greater).
It's often worthwhile hiring a contractor to lay the patio, if only because the materials are so heavy and bulky to work with.
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost?
Installing your own paver patio costs from $500 to $1,500, depending on the type of pavers you choose and whether you already own the tools or need to rent them.
As long as the materials are in place and nearby, you can lay about 100 square feet of patio pavers in a day.
You may need to rent equipment, which costs about $350. Plus, you can expect to pay about $5 per square foot for materials.
The average size patio project is about 280 square feet, and the national average for professional installation and materials is $3,800, with prices ranging from $2,400 to $7,000.
FAQ
Can you lay pavers directly on dirt?
In most cases, you cannot lay pavers directly on dirt. To achieve a stable surface, the dirt base must first be compacted, and then a layer of aggregate and sand must be laid.
What do you put under pavers?
First, put a stabilizing base of 3/4-inch minus construction gravel or crushed rock. Put coarse sand on top of the base. After you have laid the pavers, sweep either fine sand or polymeric sand between the pavers.
Do I need concrete under my pavers?
Pavers are best installed on top of a flexible medium to move with the ground's temperatures. Pavers installed on a concrete surface will not be as malleable and may crack over time.
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