How to lay outdoor paving stones: Step-by-step guide
Landscaping with pavers is a great way to add a touch of elegance and functionality to your outdoor space. Whether you’re planning to create a paved driveway, terrace, border or courtyard, laying pavers can be a do-it-yourself project.
In this article, we’ll guide you through how to lay outdoor pavers professionally.
Materials and tools required for installation
To get started, make sure you have the necessary tools and materials to hand. You’ll need :
Pavers, cobblestones or setts: Choose paving stones of the shape, colour and material that best suit your project. Discover the different types of paving stones.
Sand for the base: To create a solid base.
Gravel: Used for levelling.
Wooden stakes and chalk line: To mark out the area.
Shovel, rake and spirit level: For digging, levelling and checking alignment.
Rubber hammer: For driving in paving stones.
Vibrating plate or wooden board: To compact the ground.
Steps for laying outdoor paving stones
Preparing the ground:
Start by marking out the area where you want to lay the paving stones using wooden stakes and string. Next, dig the area to an appropriate depth depending on the thickness of the cobbles and the type of soil. Make sure the surface is evenly levelled.
Laying the gravel:
Add a layer of crushed gravel to the excavated area. This layer of gravel should be around 10 cm thick. Use a vibrating plate or wooden board to compact the gravel. This step will help stabilise the soil and improve drainage.
Adding the sand:
On top of the compacted gravel, add a layer of coarse sand about 5 cm thick. Use a rake to level the sand evenly. Check alignment with a spirit level to make sure the sand bed is flat.
Laying the pavers:
Start laying the pavers from one corner of the prepared area. Place them gently on the sand bed, spacing them evenly. Use a rubber mallet to press them lightly into the sand, making sure they are level. Use a spirit level to check the alignment of the paving stones. Repeat this step until the entire surface is covered.
Choosing and filling joints
When laying paving stones, cobblestones or setts, the choice of joint type is important because it affects the appearance, stability and durability of the paved surface. Discover some of the types of joints, such as thin mortar, or sand, commonly used for filling the gaps between the paving stones:
Once all the pavers are in place and you’ve chosen the type of joint: fill in the joints between the pavers. Sweep the excess off the surface and use a broom to fill the gaps between the pavers. This will stabilise the pavers and prevent them from shifting.
Final compaction:
Use the vibrating plate or wooden board to compact the surface again. This will help to hold the pavers in place and fill the sand joints evenly.
Cleaning:
Carefully sweep the entire surface to remove excess sand and clean the pavers with a hose.
Need advice on choosing the right pavers or laying them? Just contact us!
