How to Build a Patio from Concrete Pavers

In this outdoor project, Ron uses a concrete paver system to create a walkway and patio that is the perfect setting for outdoor dining and entertaining.

The new patio area extends the living area beyond the kitchen of this Columbia, South Carolina home, providing guests with an alternative to the crowded kitchen.Ron uses a man made product called Nature Walk by Matt Stone Inc., which consists of interlocking shapes that appear random, giving the patio the rich look of natural stone.

Click here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

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1. Clear patio area
Begin by clearing away any existing gravel, rocks, brick or debris from the area.

2. Stake out patio boundaries
Garden hoses are an ideal tool for laying out the boundaries of your project since they are easily adjusted.

After determining the patio size and shape, drive in stakes and outline the boundary with string, pulling it taut between stakes.

3. Remove soil
Using a shovel, remove approximately 3 inches of soil throughout the entire area inside the patio boundary. This will allow for the depth of the stone itself plus 1 inch of leveling sand.

To make sure that the area is uniformly 3 inches deep, create a string line at grade across the area. Measure in several places to make sure that it is consistently 3 inches from the string down to the ground.

4. Compact the base and create a slope
It is important that the patio slopes away from the house so that water runs away from the house and not back toward the foundation. A slope of 1" for every 8' (or 1/8" for each foot) is appropriate. Use a string line at grade, as in step 3 to remove slightly more soil as you move away from the house.

After the soil has been removed, it is important that the area is very flat and firm. High or low spots on the surface of the soil will result in an uneven patio surface.

Use a tamper to firmly compact the soil so that it won't settle underneath the pavers causing them to wobble and become uneven over time.

5. Add leveling sand/screed
It is important to lay down exactly 1" of leveling sand, which will make the patio more stable and will allow for drainage. To get the necessary uniform depth, lay down 2 sections of ¾" PVC pipes 3 - 4 feet apart. (¾" PVC pipe is exactly 1" in diameter on the outside.) The pipes serve as screed rails. Pour the relatively coarse leveling sand around the pipes to fill the patio area.

6. Position stones
Because of the irregular, curved shape of these paver stones, it is essential that the first few stones be positioned in such a way that the outer-most points create a perfect 90-degree angle. Establishing this angle assures that as the patio is expanded outward, it will maintain straight lines along both axes. Establishing a perfect right angle is easy! See Ron's tip for a 3, 4, 5 triangle.

Use a string line to establish the proper angle when laying the first three stones.

While expanding the patio, stop whenever necessary to put down more sand and screed back further until you have worked your way across the whole patio surface.

7. Cut stones to fill remaining spaces
After the whole stones have been placed, there will be a few odd spaces remaining that could not quite fit a whole stone. Paver stones can easily be cut with a masonry blade on a circular saw to fill in some of these spaces.

To determine where to make the cut:

• trace the shape of the stone onto a manila folder or similar sized piece of cardboard or stiff paper;
• place the folder where the stone will go, mark where the cut line should be, and then cut away the excess paper;
• trace the cut line from the folder onto the stone.

Using a diamond saw blade, which has a longer life and will cut stone faster, make a ¼ inch scoring cut first, then lower the blade down a little at a time to deepen the cut.

8. Edging stones
Edgers can be used to define a flowerbed or define the edge of the walkway.Pre-cast edging blocks, also by Matt Stone, Inc., can be purchased to match the color and texture of the pavers.

The edgers are installed much the same way the pavers were installed. First establish a level line, which will both indicate where the top of the edgers should be and also provide a straight guideline.

Remove soil to the proper depth, compact soil, add leveling sand and lay the edger stones in place.

If there are any large areas where pea gravel will be used, it is recommended that landscape fabric or weed cloth be placed under the gravel. This will keep the weeds from growing up through the pea gravel while still allowing for proper drainage.