Installing pavers?

Question

I'm not the most handyman. But does anyone think I would be able to put a paver patio in my backyard myself. What would the difficulty rating be. As a 10 being impossible. And how long would it take to put a 30x12 patio in.

Answer 1

Building a patio isn't complicated, but it is physically demanding.

Setting the pavers is the least of your concern though. You need to dig down below the frost line so you can make a proper foundation for this patio. If you don't, the patio will buckle within a couple of seasons.

You need to fill this hole with pea gravel (then tamp it down), put a few inches of sand in it (then tamp it down). Lay the bricks, make sure that they're sloped properly (tamping them to get them level) - and when you're done, you have to drive sand down in between the pavers to lock them in place.

I recommend going to Home Depot and buying one of their "fix everything" books. There will be a couple of pages in there on building patios and making sure that you have the proper slope is crucial. It's the best $20 you'll spend.

Answer 2

I just recently did an entire back yard in river rock and pavers, and have suggestions.

Obviously you have options as to placement, etc.

If you want the pavers to BUTT each other, then an accurate measurement will allow that you might either increase or decrease the size by fractions. Your lattitude would be better served of course if you spaced whatever sizes you choose.

You also have options in setting them level with ground, or raising the patio and bordering it. In either case you should level the space, probably grade it down below a weed/grass level and use a weed barrier first. Then you have options in the base material. I'm in Florida and use crushed limerock. It offers not only drainage, but no harmful minerals to the soil below. It also retains stability better than sand. In either case, once you've decided on ground level or raised, graded the plot to your size, added the base material, then it should be "tamped." That can be done by renting the tool or creating your own with a 2x4 and a piece of 3/4 plywood. The soil beneath the base probably should be tamped as well, before adding the weed barrier and base substance. With either/any base substance you might want to wet/dampen it to help settling. A 2 inch base would suffice, and tamping only compacts about 2 inches of soil anyway, even using the powered hammer type.

Once you've measured, chosen pavers, decided patterns, then all you need do is have them delivered and set them. At the size you have stated, it's likely delivery might be free at the cost to you. IE: In FL, at HD for example, a 16x16 might cost between $2 and $3 each.

Even if you've chosen to Butt the pavers you should probably fill what you can with sand, although it will wash, and wear out of any spaces. If you choose spacing between pavers you might try the smallest size river rock, (Pea Size) also sold at the Home stores, and fill the spaces that way. At least they won't erode, But will allow drainage.

During the process use a level to keep the consistency as even as possible. It is outdoors after all, not a fine hardwood dance floor.

Even if you go with level to ground you should border the main style of pavers, perhaps with bricks, or the flat rectangular landscape stones also sold at HD and Lowes, for example.

The difficuly factor is low, and requires more of you in labor than much else, but what I've suggested.

Set your chosen furniture etc. get a tall glass of iced tea, and enjoy.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

1 is the ground flat and level if not it will have to be leveled 2all the top soil will have to be taken out 3 then you will have to dig down about 6'' for gravel and sand and weed fabric 4 then after go get that done pack it down and level it you need to know how high you want your pave rs to be even with the side walk trial fit the pave in to see what pattern you want it depends on the size of pave you are using lay the out so you have THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CUTTING the set them in tap them in as you go and when you get them all in you need some fine sand to sweep in to the joints and after a couple of rains to i think you should hire it done

Answer 4

First of all you have to ask yourself two questions. Are you putting them in dry or using mortar? And are you truely a committed do it yourselfer? If you're going to use mortar to det them, i say hire a professional, there's no room for mistakes. If you do it the old dry method using sand, if you don't get the look you desire you can tear them up and start over. Either way your looking at a lot of work.

Answer 5

installing pavers

Answer 6

My husband does this for a living and my advice to you is to have someone do it because you have to compact the sand or stone you use underneath and make it even adn pu tthe pavers over the compacted material, if not you will have settling pavers and they will eventually become uneven adn collect rain etc. good luck with your project

Answer 7

Its hard work but not difficult if you spend the time doing it. We did our sidewalk. Took a couple of days and you have to everything perfect. If you are not handy then I would say hire it done. You will not be happy when they start settling or popping up.

Answer 8

dificulty 2, unless you like hard work, wheel barrowing, & hand tamping 10. it will take one guy continuous a week /week 1/2 - depending on if any heavy equiptment can be used!