Landscape Paving Stone
There are two primary types of stone material used for pavers, tiles and related products. One type is fabricated from cement or stone slurries in molds to form a paver or large tile. The other type is natural stone that has been cut to industry standard sizes or to the specifications you provide. Natural stone is far more costly, but the benefits of unique color, surfaces, sizing, texture and appearance make the added costs worth the investment.
How to install Stone Pavers
Step 1: Prepare and Compact the Base
- Spread approximately 2.5 tonnes of recycled road base in a 50mm thick layer, delivered in four trailer loads.
- Leveled the area with a 20mm per meter slope, using a steel screed and timber frame, ensuring drainage away from the house and neighboring property.
- Compacted the base in 5 passes, lightly spraying with water between each to bind the material. Result: a solid, stable foundation.
Step 2: Add and Level Bedding Sand
- Applied a 20mm layer of bedding sand to create a smooth, adjustable surface for pavers.
-
Used timber lengths to screed the sand in sections, ensuring a consistent level without wasting conduit.
Step 3: Lay Full Paving Stones
- Started placing 60mm thick, 20kg pavers, carefully dropping each one flat onto the sand.
- Adjusted screeding method using a hooked steel bar to match paver height and improve speed.
- Continued adding sand and screeding as needed. Once laid, pavers stayed firmly in place, allowing work to continue on top of them.
- After 3 days, half the area was completed with full-sized pavers—cutting was saved for later.
Step 4: Cut and Fit Edge Pieces
- Measured and cut smaller edge pieces to fit around pipes, drains, and curves.
- Used pipe couplings and cardboard templates for precise markings.
- Curves were cut by scoring with an angle grinder and finishing with a hammer and chisel—time-consuming, but essential for a clean finish.
Step 5: Fill Joints and Compact Surface
- Swept dry sand into the joints to stabilize the pavers.
- Followed with Pave Set (a sand/gel compound that hardens with water).
- Used a compactor with carpet padding to protect pavers and vibrate sand deep into joints.
- Ran the compactor four times, then sprayed the surface lightly to activate the compound.
Step 6: Haunch and Finish Edges
- Once hardened, removed temporary timber edging and began haunching the perimeter.
- Placed thin rebar along the edges, embedded in a layer of concrete, then covered with a second sloped layer to direct water runoff.
- Left a 20mm paver edge exposed to allow mulch coverage and blend the concrete border into the landscape.
|
|
