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Paver Installation Guide

“Do-It-Yourself” Paver Installation Guide

The following information should be used as a guide as you prepare to install interlocking pavers yourself.

Step 1: EXCAVATION

Step 2: BASE

Step 3: LAYING THE PAVERS

Step 4: DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS

Some Notes before you begin...
Before beginning your project, it is recommended that you mark off the area to be landscaped. That way, you will be able to determine the amount of granular materials to be removed, the amount of fill required and the number of pavers needed to cover the area.

Before excavating the site, do not hesitate to contact any public utility companies if there is any doubt as to the presence of underground wiring or pipes.

Paver Installation

If you are replacing a layer of asphalt that has deteriorated over time, with no major depressions, it is not necessary to reconstruct a deep granular base before installing concrete pavers. Simply level and compact the surface base and add the leveling bed as shown in the diagram on left.

Tools Required:

• 1 broom

• 1 chalk line

• 1 1”x 6”x 8” plank

• 1 wheel barrel

• 1 shovel

• 1 level

• 1 vibrating plate

• 1 50’ bricklayer's line

• 1 measuring tape

• 1 rake

• 1 plumb line

• 1 guillotine or concrete saw

• 2 rigid pipes with diameter of 1”x10’

• a few pegs


Step 1 : Excavation

The following information should be used as a guide as you prepare to install interlocking pavers yourself.

Carefully mark off the perimeter of the project site by outlining the area to be excavated. The excavation must be carried out in such a way as to create a 2% slope to allow for proper drainage. This same slope will be repeated later on by the surface of the granular base, the leveling bed and the finished surface of the pavers. Level and compact the bottom of the excavated area.

NATURE OF PROJECT

TYPE OF SOIL

MINIMUM REQUIRED

EXCAVATION LENGTH

MINIMUM THICKNESS

OF GRANULAR BASE

Residential Driveway

clay

15”

12”

 

gravel

11”

8”

Walkway or patio

clay

9”

6”

 

gravel

7”

44”

Step 2 : Base

Paver Installation2To prevent contamination of granular base, the use of geotextile is recommended, particularly where clay-like soils are involved.

Spread and compact 0 - 3/4” crushed stone in successive layers of 4” to form the base. Compact the materials using an appropriate vibrating roller: When this operation is completed to the desired height, the ground contour should be the same as that of the paved surface.

To provide effective support for the cement curbing and paving stones, the granular base must extend at least 8” beyond the outer edge of what will be the finished paved surface, throughout the perimeter.Paver Installation 3

The installation of curbing will require slight excavation and alignment, and, finally backfilling and compacting with crushed stone around the curbing. The recommended base for cement pavers is a layer of non-compacted concrete sand approximately 1” thick. This laying bed can be leveled using a straight edge moved along two guides placed on the compacted granular base.


Step 3 : Layering the Pavers

The following information should be used as a guide as you prepare to install interlocking pavers yourself.

Paver  Installation 4Once the model of the paver and the laying pattern have been selected, place the first pavers at a 90 degree angle. On inclined surfaces, it is better to begin installing pavers at the bottom of the slope. The use of a line or square will make it easier to align the pavers.

For a more finished appearance, it is suggested that pavers be drawn from more than one different cube at the same time; this will provide uniformity of texture and harmony of color. Use a saw or a paver splitter to cut pavers to the desired shapes and sizes, when necessary.

Paver Installation 5

When all the pavers have been laid, using a vibrating plate compactor, make two passes over the surface in opposite directions to stabilize and level the surface. This will cause the pavers to settle approximately 3/8” into the sand base.

Spread dry concrete sand over the surface and sweep it back and forth in all directions to work it into the joints. Use the compactor to force the sand into the joints between pavers; if necessary, repeat this procedure.

Step 4 : Determining the Amount of Materials

Granular Base
2200 pounds of 0 - 3/4” crushed stone spread to a thickness of 4” will cover an area of 54 sq.ft.

Leveling Base
2200 pounds of concrete sand spread to a thickness of 1” will cover an area of 215 sq.ft.

Joint Filling
Filling the joints between 2-3/8” thick pavers will require 70 pounds of concrete sand for every 100 sq.ft. of paved surface.

685 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Exterior /Masonry Department: 201-891-3500

Interior Tile Department: 201-891-0088
Fax: 201-891-0220

Store Hours:
M-F: 7:30 AM - 4:30PM
Saturday: 8AM-1PM

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