Cement pavers installation

A big benefit of pavers is that they can be removed and re-installed, which reduces future service interruptions. Pavers are often used for the following applications:. The popularity of pavers is expanding rapidly in the United States.

There is plenty of growth to go: in Europe there are square feet of pavers installed per person annually whereas, in the United States it is only 1 square foot per person.

Insiders in the paver business say the market is on fire and poised to continue growing as the benefits of pavers become more well known. Paver Installation Considerations Properly preparing the base material is critical to the paver installation. Second, a Geotextile Fabric is installed to keep the native soil separated from the base material. Third, the right type of base must be installed. It must compact when installed in inch lifts. The base material itself should be a granular type that compacts easily.

Each state has different names for the product use as base material. However there is a rule of thumb:. Other tools include tamping beam, wheelbarrow, shovels, buckets and rake, and surface-finishing tools such as a wood float. To start installing a concrete paver, position a hardboard filler strip inside the formwork across the width.

Support the filler strip on the outside of the first bay to be concreted, using the piece of timber held in position with pegs. Concrete the bay right up to the hardboard filler, then concrete about mm into the second bay.

When finishing the concrete surface, use an arising tool on each side of the filler strip. Then pour batches of concrete into the first bay to be laid. Then do the finishing touches as necessary.

Before any work starts have the utility company check for underground pipes and wires. Stake out location and depth of pipes and wires. Removal of the existing pavement, turf, or existing soil to the proper depth. The proper depth will be finish surface, less paver thickness, setting bed depth, and base material. The amount of base material is often determined by a soil engineer and depends on the propensity of the soil to expand, saturate, or hold water. Which would then cause the pavers to move.

Base thickness normally ranges from 6-inches to inches. A base for vehicular traffic is typically inches to inches. In extreme soil or other conditions, the base can be up to inches deep. It is critical you learn what works best in your area. Soils engineers can provide guidance in this area. If the subgrade is clay, compaction must be done with a roller or rammer so the subgrade is fully compacted. If sandy soils, a vibraplate is often sufficient for subgrade compaction. In moist or wet areas, and where the soil is expansive, geotextile fabric should be installed to separate and keep separated virgin soil from the base.

A compactor is used to compact the material. The base material itself should be a granular type that compacts easily. Edge restraints are an important part of interlocking concrete pavements. By providing lateral resistance to loads, they maintain continuity and interlock among the paving units. Concrete sand, coarse washed concrete sand, or granite stone dust can be used. Pavers are installed in the desired pattern.

Concrete pavers installation should be taken from several pallets or bundles at a time to assure an even color mix.. Spread and sweep sand over the top of the pavers.

Then the compactor is used over the top of the pavers. The sand will vibrate from below and above into the joints. Add more sand on top and continue the process — which will make for a solid paver surface. Sealing will accentuate the paver colors and help protect them from staining. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles.

Author Info Last Updated: September 15, Mark the area. Use twine and sticks to mark the area where you will be laying your pavers and use it as a guide during the process. Excavate the soil. You will need to excavate 8 to 9 inches and then firmly compact the soil.

Be sure to measure once done so that your patio, driveway, or walkway does not accidentally slope in any one direction. Lay the base. Your pavers should not be placed directly onto the soil. Instead, they must be placed on top of a gravel base.

High-quality, Class 2 Road Base is preferred for this type of project, and you will need enough to be 4 to 6 inches deep throughout the entire area. If the concrete pavers are only being used for foot traffic, you can get by with a base that is only 3 to 4 inches deep. Place the drainage system. If the area is prone to flooding, you may want to install a drainage system to ensure that the area remains free of standing water.

There are several types of solutions you can use with the objective being to direct water away from the area using pipes or gravity. Compact the base.

This is a critical step for ensuring that your pavers remain secure and do not shift over time. The base must be firm and secure. Lay bedding sand. Placed on top of the gravel base, bedding sand provides a smooth surface for your concrete pavers to be placed on. The sand needs to be 1 inch thick and perfectly leveled, the sand provides a gap and allows the pavers to be compacted.

Place concrete paving stones. Use your drawing or rendering as a reference and begin laying your concrete pavers in the correct pattern. Begin with the interior pavers, placing them firmly onto the base and compacting them as you go.

Next, lay your border pavers using the same technique. Compact and set pavers.