How to Lay Concrete Pavers on a Sand and Gravel Base

Laying concrete pavers on a sand and gravel base is much like laying brick, and any other material on a sand and gravel base for that matter. Concrete pavers are available in a many different shapes and intricate patterns, it just depends on what type you want for you patio. The advantage to concrete pavers is that they are big and lay pretty quickly, and most will have some sort of auto spacing feature making it easier and quicker to lay evenly.

Start by placing the pavers along one edge of the patio and work toward the opposite edge, following the pattern dictated by the shape of the pavers. Once you decide where the next paver is going place it firmly in place but be careful not to drag them through the sand. Before you get too far make it a habit to check for level, just like with the bricks use a 2x4 or a level and run it over the concrete pavers to make sure everything is level. Also just like with the bricks tap high spots with a mallet and add sand to low spots. Just go slow and make sure you are doing it right the first time or you will spend hours trying to correct it if you go too far.

Many times you will need to cut your pavers when you get to certain spots, especially around the edges and end of rows. If you do need to cut a paver, score the sides of it with a brick chisel and hammer, once the paver is scored you can cut it with a circular saw and masonry blade. Make sure you have a masonry blade or you will damage your pavers and spend a ton of money on regular saw blades.

Once all the pavers are in place you need to sweep sand into the joints with a stiff brush or broom. Don't be afraid to get enough sand on the patio because you will almost always add more as you go on. Just like with bricks make sure the pavers are securely fit into the sand and gravel base by using enough sand and a power tamper. This makes the pavers set in the bed nice and tight and will reduce movement. Spray the patio with water and let the sand settle. When you spray the patio with water you need to wait for it to dry and you will probably need to add some more sand a second and maybe a third time. You should be ready to go and enjoy your patio.

There is also one added to using concrete pavers and that is, you can create your own style of pavers. If you are creative and handy enough you can make a mold out of 2x2 or 1x2 in any shape you want. this gives you an option to put your patio together however you want. It can be a little tricky to make a mold but once you have figured it out you can go anywhere you want with your patio. If you want to learn how to build your own mold feel free to contact me and I can give you some pointers on where to get started.