Preparation of Tools and Materials Before starting, make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials:
• Pavers or cobblestones
• Level
• Shovels and rakes
• Water hose
• Sand and gravel for the base
• Cement to bond the pavers
• Gloves and safety glasses
Design and Planning
1. Design Choice and Measurement:
• Determine the walkway route around the house.
• Define the standard measurements, usually between 3 and 4 feet wide, ensuring the level is adequate at each access point of the home.
Area Preparation
2. Mark and Excavate:
• Mark the perimeter of the walkway using a string and stakes for guidance.
• Excavate the marked area to a depth of approximately 2 to 6 inches to create a stable base.
Base Installation
3. Prepare the Base:
• Fill the excavated area with a 2 to 4-inch layer of gravel, followed by a 2-inch layer of finer fill material.
• Compact the gravel and fill material to ensure they are firm and level.
4. Paver Installation:
• Place the pavers on the prepared base, ensuring they are level and aligned.
• Continue placing the pavers along the walkway, interlocking the pavers for greater stability according to the selected installation pattern. For smaller areas, it is advisable to use pavers of smaller dimensions to avoid too much waste from cutting.
• Constantly check that the pavers are level and aligned. (It is recommended to use a string line to mark straight lines as a guide during installation)
• Check and adjust any paver that is not correctly aligned. (You can disassemble and correct the lines constantly before concluding the work)
Completion and Filling with Sand
5. Finishing: Filling with Sand
• Once the installation is finished, place a small cement border around the entire perimeter to confine the paver, serving as support to prevent displacement. It is placed slightly below the paver level to be later covered by another material or grass to conceal its existence.
• Then, place sand over the surface of the pavers, spreading it evenly.
• If you have a light compactor (Vibratory plate compactor), you can partially run it lightly over the paver to finally stabilize it.
• Add abundant water with a hose to allow the sand to penetrate the joints between the pavers, filling and stabilizing the installation.
• Finally, wash the paver with water without removing the sand from the joints and you can also blow it using a blower.
Safety and Maintenance
6. Safety during Construction:
• Wear gloves and safety glasses throughout the process to prevent accidents and injuries.
