Walkway or Patio– Draw a diagram 12″ wider than the project area for this will allow a 6″ margin on each side of the project to accommodate the edge restraint.
Driveway– Double up on the above amount.
Choosing Base Depth:
Walkway or Patio– A depth of 8″ is usually enough. If the grounds consist of more clay, it is recommended for the depth to be at least 12″.
Driveway– A depth of 12″ is usually enough. If the grounds consist of more clay, it is recommended for a depth to be at least 18″.
Preparing Your Base:
Fill your base with 0-3/4″ gravel up to 3″ high.
Gravel is recommended to be slightly sprinkled with water for better compaction.
Compact your gravel with your vibrating plate compactor.
It is very important to go over the area a minimum of 6 times or until the base becomes really hard.
Repeat steps 1 to 4 to allow for the maximum base height.
Now you are ready to prepare the final bed for the pavers to be placed.
The material recommended is 0 to 3/8″ crusher dust gravel (tailings).
Before installing your material, place two pipes (1″ diameter each), both parallel to each other following your walkway, patio, or driveway.
These pipes are used as a guideline to level off your crusher dust gravel.
After that, you can install the crusher dust gravel on top of your compacted base.
Make sure you fill it up a bit more, approximately 1/2″ over the top of the pipe.
Then use a very straight piece of wood (2″x 6″).
Level the crusher dust gravel, for this provides the finished surface on which the pavers will be placed.
Pull out of the pipes and fill in the grooves.
Smooth out the 0 to 3/8″ crusher dust gravel but DO NOT COMPACT.
The bedding course must be left loose to ensure proper setting of paving stones when compacting.
Installation of the Paving Stones:
Pavers can be installed in a desired pattern.
Start at one end, and install pavers gently and also tightly together in the bedding of 0-3/8″ crusher dust gravel.
Check your row alignment as you work.
If you are making some curves in your project, we suggest that you find a soap stone and make a desired line on top of your pavers to the curves that you want.
Then use a guillotine splitter or masonry saw and cut the pavers on the line one at a time.
Remove the pieces of pavers that you do not need.
Installing an edge restraint (such as PVC, aluminum, or concrete edgers) will prevent the installed pavers from spreading.
Compacting & Finishing Touch
Compacting is very important for two reasons; it removes any slight height variations between the individual pavers, leaving a smooth surface. More importantly, it sets the pavers into the bedding course. Therefore, the compacting forces crusher dust from below to go up between the joints of the pavers, securing them from lateral movement.
Run the small plate compactor in parallel rows across the pavers, making sure that all pavers are compacted.
Make two or three passes with the small plate compactor in both directions.
Spread a layer of Fast Setting Polymeric Sand on the surface of the pavers and sweep it into the joints.
Run the small plate compactor over the pavers to settle the sand into the joints.
Sweep the remaining of the sand off and you have a beautiful walkway, patio, or driveway.
