Install guide · 2-minute read
How to install pavers
Patios, walkways and driveways, done the way the industry standard says.
The short version
Dig deep enough for 4" of compacted base under a patio or walkway, or 6" under a driveway, plus 1" of sand and the paver. Compact the base in layers, screed 1" of bedding sand, lay the pavers, then compact them and sweep sand into the joints. Slope everything at least 2% away from the house.
Pavers2⅜" (60 mm) or thicker
Bedding sand1" (25 mm), screeded, not compacted
Compacted base, ¾" road base4" patio and walkway · 6" driveway
Compacted native soilSloped like the finished surface
Step by step
- Plan the depth and slopeAdd up the paver thickness, 1" of bedding sand and your base: at least 4" for patios and walkways, 6" for driveways. Use more base on clay or wet ground. Slope the surface at least 2%, about ¼" per foot, away from buildings, and dig so the bottom of the hole follows that same slope.
- Dig past the edgesExcavate wider than the finished paving so the base extends past the edge restraint. For bases up to 6" thick, run the base 6" past the edge. Remove roots, sod and soft organic soil, then compact the bottom.
- Build the baseSpread ¾" road base and compact it in layers with a plate compactor rather than all at once. The finished base should be flat within ⅜" over a 10 ft straightedge. A flat base is what makes a flat patio. Sand can't fix a wavy base.
- Set the edge restraintInstall edging or a concrete curb before laying so the pavers can't spread. Every edge needs one.
- Screed 1" of bedding sandSpread coarse bedding sand such as Sechelt sand and screed it to an even 1" between rails. Don't compact it or walk on it before the pavers go down.
- Lay the paversWork off the pavers you've already laid, not the sand. Keep joints between 1/16" and 3/16" (2 to 5 mm). Use a herringbone pattern on driveways. On driveways, don't use cut pieces smaller than a third of a paver.
- Compact, sand, compact againRun a plate compactor over the pavers, ideally with a pad to protect the surface. Sweep jointing sand or polymeric sand into the joints, compact again, and keep sweeping until the joints are full. Neighbouring pavers shouldn't sit more than ⅛" higher than each other.
What to get from us: ¾" road base for the base, Sechelt sand for bedding, masonry sand or polymeric sand for the joints, and edging. Not sure how much? One cubic yard of base covers about 100 sq ft at 3" deep. Call 604-986-5279 with your measurements and we'll work it out.
Summarized from Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (formerly ICPI) and Allan Block installation guidance. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and any engineered plans for your project.