What this covers
A paver patio is only as good as what is under it. The installer excavates to the depth the soil and climate call for, places and compacts crushed stone in layers, screeds a thin bedding of sand, and lays pavers in the chosen pattern with a border course. An edge restraint is spiked along the perimeter so the field cannot spread, and the joints are filled with sand, often a polymeric sand that hardens. The patio is pitched away from the house so water runs off. Pavers can be lifted and reset if the ground ever moves, which is their main advantage over a poured slab.
When to call
- A back yard with no place to put a table and chairs.
- A cracked or heaved slab you want to replace with something that can be reset.
- A walk, patio and seat wall you want to match in one material.
What to expect
- DesignSize, shape, paver style, pattern and border are chosen and the patio laid out on the ground.
- Excavate and baseSoil is removed, gravel placed and compacted in layers, and the grade set to drain.
- LayBedding sand is screeded, pavers set in pattern, the border cut and fitted.
- LockEdge restraint is installed, joints filled, the surface compacted and cleaned.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Will the pavers shift?
A properly compacted base and edge restraint keep them in place. If a spot does settle, those pavers can be lifted, the base corrected and the pavers reset.
How thick should the base be?
It depends on the soil and the frost depth. Several inches of compacted crushed stone is typical for a patio; more where soils are soft or wet.
Do weeds grow in the joints?
Polymeric joint sand resists weeds and ants. Sweeping and occasional re-sanding keep the joints tight.
Related: Flagstone patios · Concrete patios · Retaining walls · All decks, porches and outdoor living
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