Landscaping pavers are a great way to spruce up any home. They can be installed on patios, driveways, and walkways – making them perfect for all of your outdoor spaces! If you’re thinking about installing landscaping pavers in the near future, then this article is for you. Here’s a step-by-step guide with everything you need to know!
Site Preparation
Grass, plants, and constructed elements should be removed to the level of undisturbed soil. As part of the design plan for the project, excavation should reach the depth prescribed. The finish grade is calculated as the depth of the paver, sand, and gravel layers minus this finish grade. Depending on the project, excavation can range from six inches for pathways and patios to 18 inches for driveways.
Subgrade Compaction
In order for the surface to be capable of receiving vehicular traffic, the exposed soil must be compacted to at least 95%. This is especially true if the paving is to be elevated or comprised of cut and fill because there can be loose layers below the surface that can settle over time and cause a depression in the paving. This compaction rate requires specialized equipment when heavy soils are involved.
Spread Base Material
The average residential project is a layer of gravel between 4 and 6 inches deep, but this varies from project to project. Generally, the paver bed is formed by a layer of coarse sand or fine gravel set two inches above this.
Edge Restraints
Using these PVC products, the base material layer will not erode and allow the outside pavers to tip. Staking over the paving stone patio is the best way to preserve its crisp appearance. In order to support the weight of cars, driveways will need larger, heavier barriers. For some projects, concrete or pavers with edges may need to be installed in a more elaborate manner.
Sand for Bedding
It is laid under 1.5 inches of concrete sand. Pavers are laid on a screeded base to ensure perfect levelling. To achieve a perfectly flat paved surface, this step requires careful attention to detail. At Landscaping pavers Fredericton, polymeric sand is preferred for its ability to prevent ants from tunnelling through joints and forming mounds. Additionally, it is more weed-resistant. Because local granite can be finely crushed, it offers a low-cost alternative that is equally anti-ant resistant to granite slabs.
Install Pavers
Install pavers by using chalk or string lines if necessary. It is possible to create spacing between pavers by using spacer bars. It is also possible to use a gap between pavers of 1/16″ to 3/16″. The rule of thumb is to not cut pavers to sizes smaller than one-third of a whole paver when the pattern results in irregular gaps at the final edges of the vehicular surface.
Sand and Sweep
Spread dry joint sand over the completed paving and sweep it into the gaps between pavers, then compact the surface to work it deeper and provide a safe and stable surface. Large projects may require a mechanical device to speed up the process and to provide substantial compaction.
Seal Pavers
Use a penetrating acrylic sealer with a mat surface to keep the color of the pavers from fading. Maintaining the beauty of the pavers will require future reapplication, especially in areas with snow or hard water.