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Planning & Design
- When installing stone pavers, consider the space, shape and how it will be used.
- Sketch the patio, path or driveway beforehand to get an idea of the overall design and placement in your yard.
- Use the sketch to map out the space in the yard using a measuring tape and chalk (or marking paint).
- Use stakes, mason’s string and a line level to ensure the stone surface will be level and sloped correctly for proper drainage away from the home.
- Write down exact measurements on your sketch.
- PRO TIP: Do a quick estimate of your space based on your chosen paver size in order to reduce the amount of stone cutting required.
- Determine the amount of landscaping materials required. NOTE: When installing pavers for a patio or walkway, use 4- 5 inches of compacted road crush for foot traffic. For driveways, use 6-10 inches of compact road crush to support weight of car traffic and prevent the stone driveway from sinking or becoming uneven.
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Rockland Landscaping Supplies has a Materials Volume Calculator and knowledgeable staff to help you determine the required amount of landscaping supplies.
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Excavation & Base Preparation
- Before digging, always remember to contact the utility company serving you in the Edmonton Area to ensure it’s safe.
- Remove sod, old concrete and/or soil using a spade/shovel and wheelbarrow to haul away debris.
- To estimate the correct depth for excavation, consider the width of the stone paver, 1 inch for sand, the slope and whether it will used for foot or car traffic.
- Use your measuring tape frequently to check the depth against the desired height of the stone surface marked by your mason’s string.
- Once you have reached the right depth, base preparation can begin.
- Apply 2 inches of road crush at a time and spread evenly in the excavation site using a rake.
- Use a plate tamper and a fine spray of water to compact the road crush into a solid paver base.
- Repeat the last 2 steps until you have achieved uniformity right to the edges and proper elevation.
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Paver Installation
- Spread 1 inch of sand evenly over the solid foundation using a rake. Consider using levelling bars to help you achieve the right depth and appropriate drainage.
- Use a 2”X4” or a screed board to smooth and level the surface. If you’re using levelling bars, remove the poles carefully and fill in the gaps with sand and a trowel levelling off as you go.
- Avoid working yourself into a corner or walking on the sand layer.
- Start placing pavers in the desired pattern from the edge or corner working your way in and vice versa for circular patterns.
- PRO TIP: Alternate between paving stone pallets to ensure inconsistent colour patterns are dispersed evenly throughout your design.
- Install stone pavers as close together as possible with a maximum gap of 1/8 of an inch.
- Place pavers by hand and use mason’s string as a marker to ensure your pattern follows your design.
- Once you have finished laying your pattern, dry fit your last row of pavers to get accurate measurements for any cutting that is required.
- Install edge restraints or edging stones to create a finished look and to prevent pavers from moving and sliding once in place.
- Edge restraints can be flush to the pavers or slightly before the stone purpose with room for sand on the outer edge to blend seamlessly into grass or garden area.
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Paver Installation Completion
- Use a plate tamper to go over the entire stone surface working your way from the outside edge inwards to ensure all stones are firmly in place.
- Spread masonry sand over stone pavers using a hard bristle push broom to fill cracks and any gaps.
- Repeat the above 2 steps using the plate tamper and sand until all cracks are completely full and flush with the stone surface.
- Sweep off excess sand.
- Pro tip: Apply a stone sealer to protect and preserve the natural colour of the stones against the damaging effects from the environment.
- DIY stone paver project complete!
Rockland has a large selection of stone pavers from Expocrete and Barkman plus Edmonton landscaping supplies and equipment rentals for your garden projects.
Please contact us if you have any questions and join our Facebook Group to get advice from our knowledgeable staff and landscape experts! Ask questions, share your experiences and your garden photos with us!
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