installation instructions for paving stones
- Before any excavation is started, be sure to contact Dig Safe to locate any utilities that may be in the area to be excavated. If there are any utilities located in the area, contact the related utility company before starting.
- When excavation resumes, depending on what kind of project you are doing, whether it’s a walkway, patio, or driveway, it is important that you dig out any organic material to get a solid sub-base to start with.
- Once you have the area dug out, determine how many inches of suitable material must go back in to get you back to finish grade or where you want the top of the paver to be.
- Keep in mind that 1” of bedding material is required underneath your Pavers. For example: You dig out a total of 12” of material for your Patio. The Paver thickness is approximately 2.5” and you need 1” of material under the paver. So, the amount of dense grade, (stone dust mixed with ¾” stone) you would need to put in would be 8.5”. (8.5 + 1 + 2.5 = 12)
- When filling the area with Dense Grade, it is important that you only install in 4” lifts at a time and compact. If you installed all 8.5” at once, and compacted, you would not get the material to compact fully, thus making it likely your Pavers will settle in the future. After you install the 4” of Dense Grade, rake it out and level it the best you can. Then compact with a vibratory compactor, making numerous passes to ensure complete compaction. Lightly spraying the area with water will help with the compaction, and also keep dust down. Repeat this process until you have reached the desired height.
- Next you will want to install 1” pipes on top of your sub-base. Once these pipes are installed you can fill in around them with sand or stone dust. Take a strait edge, either a 2x4 or angle iron, and level the sand or dust by running the straight edge along the top of the pipes. Keep in mind you will want to slope these pipes at least an 1/8” per foot for proper drainage. If your screeding is not properly leveled, it will reflect in your final work.
- Once you have the sand level, remove the pipes and carefully fill in the holes left by the pipes.
- When starting to lay the Pavers, be sure and walk on the installed Pavers and not on the bedding sand, this will cause ruts and also be seen in your final work.
- Any cuts you have to make should be made with a guillotine or concrete saw. Take appropriate safety measures when cutting (safety glasses and ear wear.)
- Upon completion of laying the Pavers, you will want to install the BEAST Edging and 10” Spikes, or if you have chosen Cobble Stones to edge with.
- Once the edging is in place and spiked, spread the stabilizer sand in the joints by sweeping in all directions. Be sure that the Pavers are completely dry if using Polymeric Sand.
- Once that is complete you are ready to run your compactor over the top of the Pavers. By doing this you are settling the Pavers into the bedding sand and settling the joint sand into the joints. To protect your Pavers from chipping during the final compaction, it is recommended that you have a layer of sand over the Pavers, cardboard, thin carpeting, or a geotextile fabric.
- Now, after final compaction, if any more sand needs to be filled into the joints do so. Sweep off any access sand from the Pavers. If Polymeric Sand is used, you are ready to lightly mist the Pavers with water to start the chemical reaction in the sand so that it will harden in place, taking care not to disperse the sand out of the joints.
- If you chose to seal the Pavers, TLC has the tools to do so, along with the sealers to protect you Pavers for years to come.
