Do it Yourself Patios
- 1). Spray-paint to outline the patio area. This helps you get a feel for how big it will be, to see if you can fit furniture on it, and decide whether it needs to be bigger. Adjust if needed.
- 2). Dig out the area with a shovel. A flat shovel is better so that you can smooth out the surface. The depth you dig depends on the thickness of the pavers. Dig 6 inches for the gravel and sand, plus the thickness of the pavers minus 1 inch.
- 3). Slope the patio area away from a structure if you are installing it nearby. You don't want water standing or running toward a building. A 1/4-inch drop per 4 feet is good. Use a 4-foot level along the surface to gauge the drop.
- 4). Spread a plastic sheet in the space as a vapor barrier and then pour in the 4 inches of gravel. Pack it down with a compactor.
- 5). Check the gravel for the correct slope and adjust if needed. Pour in 2 inches of sand, compact it and check the slope again.
- 6). Place the pavers in the patio area, in whatever pattern you choose. Keep a 1/4-inch gap between them on all sides. Do not push them into the sand. Check the pavers with the level every once in a while. Remove the paver and add or take away sand if needed to adjust it.
- 7). Brush sand over top of the pavers to work it in between the gaps in the pavers. Water it down with a watering hose to let it settle and pack down.