How To Install Paving Stones
Installing Paving Stones, Step By Step
System Pavers is committed to providing you with a paver hardscape that is not only beautiful, but guaranteed to last. In this paving stone installation guide, we've outlined the four steps for installing paving stones to illustrate how every driveway, pool deck, or walkway project we take on is completed to our highest standards from start to finish. At System Pavers, we know that the many benefits of paving stones – great looks, lasting quality, and low maintenance – can all be lost as the result of poor installation. We hope that by demonstrating how to install paver stones the right way, we can earn your confidence and show you what sets System Pavers apart from the competition.
Long lasting interlocking pavers
Success starts with preparation
Excavate Concrete
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Excavate Soil
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Set Grades
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Compact Earth
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The key to successfully installing paver walkways, driveways, or patios is careful preparation – and that’s where System Pavers truly excels. Before we place any pavers, we go through a rigorous pre-installation process to ensure that your pavers stay beautiful for years to come.
This process includes the excavation of existing concrete and soil and the careful setting of grades. Finally, our hardscape experts will carefully compact the earth to ensure an even, steady surface.
System Pavers Hardscape Installers Layering
The second step to ensuring durable & beautiful interlocking paving stones
Install Base
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Screed Sand
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Layer Paver Stones
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After the site has been properly prepared, a stable base will be installed for your new driveway, walkway, patio, or pool deck. System Pavers hardscape installers are professionally trained and will ensure that this step is completed to perfection! Working as a team, they will:
- Install the base: fill the area with 2-8 inches of crushed stone and compact it in layers until a perfectly smooth surface has been created.
- Screed sand: pour sand into the area to further ensure a flat compacted base is ready to receive the interlocking paving stones.
- Place the pavers: carefully install the driveway pavers on the sand according to the pattern you have chosen, paying strict attention to the alignment of the rows and the straightness of the joint lines.
These layering steps are imperative to the long-lasting durability of interlocking paving stones.
Fitting patio stones and or building a pool deck requires precision cutting of interlocking paving stones
Saw Cut Pavers
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Place Paver Borders
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Bond Beam
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When the System Pavers crew is ready to actually install driveway pavers, they will need to precision-cut some of the pavers to make them fit perfectly within the space. Not only does this procedure ensure eye-appeal, it is also critical to the longevity of your stone walkways and patios.
When laying patio stones, our hardscape installers will:
- Saw cut pavers: for the precision fit that is required to match corners, curves or unusual angles, pavers are carefully measured, then cut with a high-powered saw for a clean edge and exact fit.
- Place paver borders: not only is the border an attractive frame when building a pool deck, patio or driveway, it also helps contain the pattern you have selected.
- Bond beam: the bond beam (a special glue or bonding agent) is carefully placed between the border and the patterned pavers to "lock" everything into place.
When properly installed and fitted, interlocking paving stones are virtually maintenance-free.
Finish - the last step, but definitely not the least!
Plate Vibrate #1
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Sweep Sand
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Plate Vibrate #2
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Clean Up
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After installing paving stones carefully into the sand bed, System Pavers’s hardscape specialists will complete the finishing steps to ensure your new driveway, walkway, patio, or pool deck will last for many years to come.
Hardscape Specialists will:
- Compact and vibrate the paving stones into the sand bed, using a specially designed plate vibrator.
- Apply another layer of sand on top of the compacted pavers, and carefully sweep it into every crack and crevice. This special sand, and its correct application, ensures equal spacing so that your interlocking paving stones will not move or bunch up together. The spacers on the sides keep the paving stones spaced properly.
- Compact the pavers again, using the plate vibrator. This step is essential as it forces more sand into the joints and creates the interlock process, transforming the surface into one solid unit, giving it the strength to easily support nearly any weight you're likely to put upon it.
- Wash down the area which will also allows us to verify that the grades were properly set, hence no puddling.
Proper finishing is a must to ensure your new interlocking paving stones will last.
