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Paving stones provide a gorgeous, strong, long-lasting surface, reinforcing outdoor living and allowing you to enjoy the sunshine, shade, and breezes of nice days. People enjoy being outside to relax, play, cook, eat, drink, and skim, among other things, and interlocking paving stones can create the right outdoor space as a troublesome driveway or parking lot.
You can arrange the stones however you wish to form the last word: an outdoor front room with a hearth, a pool area, a modern-designed driveway, and more. Additionally, a well-done design adds curb appeal, freshens the design of your home, and increases your lebensraum. You could be an ambitious and talented do-it-yourselfer who can tackle laying interlocking pavers installation; otherwise, you would like to call the experts.
Youโll need a spread of paver installation tools to finish your interlocking project. Follow these steps to lay interlocking pavers properly.
- Determine Where you’ll Insert Pavers
Mapping out a location for your interlocking pavers is the key to successful installation.
Here are some questions you would like to answer before you start.
- Where will you put in your pavers?
- Can you dig these areas at least six inches, if not nine or 12, altogether?
- What obstacles does one have to clear first?
- Does your area require a permit or approval to put in pavers?
- Will the pavers section be even, or would you like to chop individual stones to suit specific areas?
The last question can significantly assist you in deciding if there are better options than outsourcing. You will need to shop for or rent a masonry saw and cut individual stones if some significant gaps or cross-sections require precisely sized rocks, which is only employment for some.
- Clear All Obstacles
Trees, roots, or other objects need clearing out before starting your project. It must go if it gets within the way of digging your base. It may save many manual hauling with a wheelbarrow later.
- Dig Your Paver Base
Dig a transparent, clean, and level base employing a shovel or powered excavation tool. The bare minimum is six inches, but nine inches works best for many projects. Interlocking pavers are usually three inches thick, but you must account for the sand or gravel base, somewhere between three and five inches below it.
- Level Out Your Base
Pavers are only as sturdy as the bottom you create for them. While less labor-intensive, this step is the foremost important of the whole process. If your base isn’t level, your pavers will shift over time or might not sit flat once complete. Use a hand tamper within the space to flatten the dirt. It is often helpful to place a level within the work area to seek out any gaps. You would like your base to be as flat and compact as possible.
- Insert Sand or Gravel
Add your layer of sand or gravel, then use an equivalent tamper to compact it. This step isn’t required only if you’re putting pavers over concrete, which is technically possible. You’ll need mortar to assist in securing them in situ.
- Laying Edging, If Desired
To help contain your pavers and keep them even, installing some edge around your project area is recommended before adding stones.
There are two ways you’ll do this:
- Install flexible plastic pavers edging around the perimeter of the work area.
- Layer additional concrete or paver stones around the perimeter.
Choose your strategy and install it accordingly. For better reinforcement, some homeowners prefer to lay two pavers stacked vertically on each other along the sides. If you are doing this, you must dig a deeper hole (12 inches) and then layer in additional sand or gravel before starting.
- Layer Your Interlocking Paver Stones
With your edge secured and the base layer leveled, you’ll now layer your interlocking pavers individually. Start from one fringe of the work area and work outward and down. Lay each paver stone carefully into position.
Avoid dragging, sliding, or bumping the paver stones, as this might disrupt the firm, level base you built earlier. Fix any area that gets tousled during installation. Work slowly and confirm each stone touches the last one you’ve laid closely. Leave no gaps.
- Cut Stones, If Needed, to suit Gaps
For awkward angular meetings, like when a walkway connects to a patio, you’ll have to cut interlocking paver stones to suit these areas. Use a masonry saw to try this. Be bound to wear hand and eye protection when cutting stones.
