Mark any obstacles such as an underground electrical conduit that you must avoid as you dig the patio footing. We simply stretch the garden hose across the lawn between the two ends of the conduit visible at the house and the garage.

Indicate the perimeter of the patio with wooden stakes driven at the four corners with a mallet. The corner angles should be square so that the shape you mark is actually a rectangle -- this will facilitate laying the pavers. The longer side of our 6 by 8 foot patio will parallel the diagonal path.

String a mason's line around the perimeter of the stakes to outline the patio boundaries. Wrap it several times around its stake and temporarily tie it off at the last stake. Mason's line is essentially a heavy-duty braided string that retains its elasticity to stay taut.