We’re going to teach you how to install a paver patio. Learn how to prep the ground and install new patio pavers in this article.

Why would you want a paver patio? They’re beautiful, durable, and very low maintenance. 

Before you do anything, I would recommend calling your local utility company and request a "one-call service" to mark the buried gas, water, and electrical lines.

Plan and Prep The Area

 Failure to plan is planning to fail. B. Franklin
Planning your paver patio will ultimately make it more enjoyable and last longer. A properly planned patio will provide years of bbq’s, parties, and relaxing evenings with friends and family. 

Determine the patio height. You don’t want water to sit on the paver patio so make sure the patio is a little higher than the surrounding ground and has a slight slope. 

The key to long-lasting paver patios is in the quality of your base. Make sure you have 6” planned into the patio height for your sand and gravel base. 

The thickness of your paver patios will depend on the soil and what you are putting on the patio. If you are working with low-lying wet soil you’ll need a thicker base than a well-drained soil. If you plan on putting heavy objects on your patio like a spa or big grill you’ll want thicker pavers too. 
‍
How big should you make your paver patio? It needs to be big enough for all your patio stuff: furniture, grills, spas and have enough room to walk around comfortably. 
‍
Prepare the patio area
Mark the area with string and board to have a guide as you build. You’ll want to mark the perimeter of the patio area with marking paint, drive wooden stakes into the ground just outside of the perimeter on the corners, and attach string to the steaks. 
‍
Plan for a slope away from the house of about 1 inch for every 4-6ft. This helps drainage when it rains. 
Remove the dirt and grass. The depth that you dig depends on how tall your pavers are combined with your 6-inch base. Dig about 6-inches beyond the strings to allow space for paver edging to hold the pavers in place. 

Don’t forget about the slope when digging. Make sure it’s consistent. An easy way to do that is to put a one inch block on the end of a 4-6ft 2x4 and use it as a guide to determine you get the proper slope.

Are you installing patio light cables or any plumbing underneath the patio? This is the time to do that.

Once you’ve removed the dirt, compact it with a plate compactor. On small jobs you can get by with a hand stamp but plate compactors speeds up the job, and they require less effort. 

If you live in an area that is prone to weed growth considering laying down a landscape fabric. The fabric will stop any weed growth.

Lay Foundation
You’ll need a:
-6 Inch Base of Crushed Gravel
-1 Inch layer of sand

Lay the crushed gravel 2-3 inches at a time, wet it down with a hose, and compact. Repeat until you have 6 inches of compacted, crushed gravel. Don’t forget about keeping the slope.

When laying the 1-inch layer of sand it helps to use 1-inch PVC pipes as guides. Lay the pipe the length of the patio and pour your sand, use a 2x4 or PVC pipe to even the sand out by sliding along the 1-inch PVC pipes. Once again, do not forget about maintaining the slope. Remove PVC pipe guides when done and fill in.

Install pavers
Use strings as guides and start laying pavers along the edge. Try and start on a hard edge like a wall. Work towards the middle, keep a small ¼ inch gap in between each paver. As you go make sure they are straight and level. Add sand or tap them down with a rubber mallet to level out. Use a straight edge to maintain clean lines. Don’t forget about the slope. 

Once you have at least 3 layers of pavers laid, install your edging along the perimeter with spikes spaced about a foot apart. 

Cutting pavers
You’ll need:
-A circular saw or masonry saw with a concrete blade Mark your cuts
-Eye protection
-Dust mask
-Work gloves
-Hammer and chisel (not as precise as saw)

Mark your pavers where you need them cut and clamp in down on a secure work area. Using the concrete blade, follow the lines you marked. You may have to make several passes. Be Careful of concrete dust gunking up your saw, it could lead to your motor wearing out faster.  

If you are making precise cuts that, for example, go around conduit, you’ll want to use a circular saw or a masonry saw. If you just need to break a few pavers in half or other non precise cuts you can use a chisel. Simply determine where the paver needs to be broken, place the chisel there and strike the chisel with a sledge hammer. 

Final steps- how to apply jointing sand to your paver patio
Before you start sanding, make sure the area is completely dry. 

Start packing the joints and crevices you left in-between the pavers with Polymeric jointing sand or paver sand. Sweep excess sand into joints. 

Once you’ve packed all the joints and areas in-between the pavers with sand it's time to use a hand tamper to settle the sand. As the sand settles you’ll need to add more. 

After you’ve tamped the paver patio, you’ll use a leaf blower or air compressor to blow all the excess sand off the patio. Make sure there is no sand left on top of any pavers because it will cause discoloration after it sets. 

Once you’ve cleared out all the excess sand, you’ll lightly spray with water and allow the sand to cure for 24 hours.