Pavers can be a great option for homeowners who want to create beautiful and durable outdoor spaces. Brick pavers are suitable for patios, pathways, driveways, and walkways. Pavers can instantly enhance your property. They are a great option for those looking to increase their home value and curb appeal.
Installing pavers correctly and stably is the key to creating a beautiful, long-lasting outdoor area. The overall look and functionality of a paved surface are greatly diminished if the pavers are not firmly in place.
You’ll also want to note these five steps that are crucial for stabilizing pavers and bricks:
1. Create a Stable Foundation
First, you need to lay a solid paver foundation. As the foundation layer, a porous material is best used as a base. This is important to ensure that water can drain through the pavers. Porous or permeable material prevents water problems and standing water. Standing or collected water under the pavers may cause cracks. This can lead to soil erosion and cause paver installations to collapse.
Paver companies often use materials with sharp or coarse edges. Some excellent paver base materials are:
- Crushed stone or rock
- Gravel
- Recycled concrete aggregate
On top of the crushed stone or gravel, a couple of inches of fine sand are also added. All these materials are compacted to make sure they stay in place and strengthen the foundation.
2. Add More Sand Bedding
Add another layer of sand to the compacted, firm base. Most pavers will add an additional inch or so of sand as a bedding to the pavers. Installers can then lay the pavers securely without disturbing the foundation. This sand bed also provides a second layer of support beneath the pavers and seams. The sand bedding prevents the sand from washing out and increasing the space between the pavers.
3. Fill in the Gaps Between Pavers
Sand is used to fill the gaps between the pavers to secure each brick. The sand fills in the gaps between the pavers and locks each brick into place. Cover the entire area once all pavers have been properly placed on the sand bed. Be sure to sweep the sand in the right direction so that it gets between the paver joint. Fill in all gaps or paver joints with sand.
This post was written by a professional at Reliable Hardscapes. Reliable Hardscapes, led by owner Blake with over 15 years of experience, specializes in transforming outdoor spaces with exceptional hardscaping services. We proudly serve Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, offering a comprehensive range of services including pavers, outdoor Kitchens Lakewood Ranch FL, stone patios, retaining walls, gated entryways, outdoor fireplaces, creek beds, driveways, fences, and even excavation and interior remodeling. At Reliable Hardscapes, we are dedicated to enhancing your property’s beauty and functionality with our expert craftsmanship and personalized service.
