As a homeowner, you might be wondering how to spruce up your front or backyard curb appeal. You also want a solution that will hold up in adverse climate conditions and perhaps an option that calls for low maintenance. Well, pavers are one excellent option designed to give your home a facelift. The challenge though is that installing pavers may not be not as straightforward as you may think.
We are here to help, though. Here are some things you need to know before installing pavers in your home.
Consider drainage
The goal is to create a level patio. However, you wouldn’t want your home to flood when it rains. Therefore, it would be wise to design your patio so that the water will drain away to an area that can handle plenty of moisture. For every two feet of pavers, plan for a quarter-inch drop in elevation to promote good drainage in your patio.
Ensure the base is solid, smooth, and firm
Pavers require a robust base to ensure they don’t wiggle around. To create the base, add three one-inch layers of gravel and pack each layer with a tamper or a plate compactor before adding the next layer. The next step would be to add a final one-inch layer of sand on top of the gravel and ensure it is level.
Dig at least six inches into the soil
A common mistake you could make when preparing to install pavers on the soil would be to dig too shallow. Well, according to one paver contractor, the recommended depth to dig for your paver would be at least six inches. Ensure you water dry soil the night before to soften it before digging. Another pro tip would be to call the local utilities to mark any areas with plumbing or electrical lines that you should avoid.
Use landscaping cloth
Once you have dug up the proper depth for your pavers, placing them directly on the soil wouldn’t be a good idea. We recommend using a landscaping cloth to prevent unwanted vegetation from growing underneath the slabs. If you are unsure how much cloth you need, multiply the length of your patio by the width and add a ten percent allowance.
Cut the pavers for the perfect fit
If you feel creative, you might want to incorporate a pattern into your pavers. Even though you aren’t aiming for a particular pattern, you will need to cut some pavers at some point to fit perfectly at the edges. We suggest you use a cold chisel or rent a wet saw for more precise cuts.
Ensure the edge is tight
Now that the finished product looks neat, you want your pavers to stay stable and not move around too much. Vinyl edging, a concrete lip, or pavers will provide additional stability while preventing weeds from creeping on your beautiful work.
Wrap up
Now that you have learned a few tricks on installing pavers, you are bound to get the best results. As you continue with the installation, be sure to keep a few pavers at hand in case you need to replace a few pieces.
