How to lay pavers on dirt

How to lay pavers on dirt. Laying pavers is a very popular activity amongst homeowners. Just by glancing at the vast array of tiled patios in the local neighborhood, it’s evident to see how popular this project can be.

However, there are a few key steps to take into account that will ensure your design not only looks fantastic but also long-lasting too.

Whilst it is technically possible to lay pavers over bare ground, this practice is not recommended as the ground will shift over time, causing the pavers to develop a sunken look and or even flare off.

This guide will help you create a beautifully laid patio that stays put for many years to come – no matter what obstacles you’ve had to endure beforehand.

How to lay pavers on dirt

how to lay pavers on dirt

If you are planning to install a paver patio stone or add brick pavers to your home, it’s important to first create the layout and design of the new surface you want.

Once you have your vision determined how you want things laid out, now is when you begin construction.

It’s also smart to take a walk or sit down near where you want your stones or pavers installed beforehand so that once construction is finished and everything has been laid out in place.

This will make sure that everything looks exactly the way you had imagined it would be once the project was complete.

Preparation of the area

Before you begin laying the paving stone in your garden on dirt, it is vital that you ensure the area is accurately measured to align with the quantity and size of pavers chosen.

This will help prevent any mistakes during measurements, which could cause problems further down the line when installing the pavers.

As such, while measuring the area out to lay the paving stone, use string or tape to mark out where each individual paver should go and make sure all pieces are equal in size.

Remove grass and soil

remove grass and soil

Pick up a mattock, and begin to chop downwards into the grassroots using downward swipes.

Try your best to not feel too frustrated at this stage, as it is going to take a while; usually, the root system of grass tends to run deep within the soil.

Using a regular shovel beginning with a small area being sure that you are taking out only roughly 7 inches of the soil underneath will help you get an idea of how deep your excavation needs to be.

Add the paver base and level

Now using a rake or shovel would be appropriate to level the area we’ll be immersing our pavers in. We could start by using a wheelbarrow to carry around any materials that may come in handy like sand and gravel.

Once these base materials have been spread evenly across the space of our patio, we can then use a plate compactor to make sure they are level and ready for paving concrete.

Wetting such materials first will help greatly with grinding them down into something as flat and even as we want them to be for our concrete pavers.

Mark the border of your walkway or patio area with garden stakes by inserting them halfway into the ground. You should allow about 3 inches on either side for edge restraints. Attach strings to the stakes.

Set up pieces of landscaping or geotextile fabric over the soil to improve drainage, firm up the base, and prevent weeds from growing between the bricks. Be sure to spike the edges to keep them from showing.

Install wood or metal edge restraints against the compacted soil’s inner walls. Use nail spikes 9 inches long to attach the restraints to the edging.

Place the Bricks/Stone on the dirt

place the bricksstone on the dirt

Begin by laying down the bricks evenly on top of the soil so that they’re pressed up against each other.

Place a wooden board across each small section of bricks to keep them in place and level with each other, then tap the boards gently with a hammer to embed them into the dirt completely.

Keep adding more rows as you go along until the entire site is filled.

Dampen the bricks. Mix stone dust into the brick mortar until it is thick and lumpy to fill in small areas between each brick.

Brush the stone dust over the surface of each brick with a stiff bristle brush. Continue adding more stone dust until the crevices are filled, then sweep until all debris has been incorporated.

How to lay pavers on dirt

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