Mark Outlines and Excavate — Excavate for Step Base
Part of project
How to Build Paver Steps into a Hill · Step 1 of 11
In this video
Once the pavers are in their desired preliminary positions, mark the outline of each paver directly onto the ground using spray paint. This creates a clear guide for excavation. After marking, temporarily move all the pavers out of the way. Then, using a shovel, excavate the soil within the marked outlines. The excavation depth should accommodate a gravel base (approximately 2 inches) and a thin layer of leveling sand (approximately 1/4 inch), plus the thickness of your chosen pavers (approximately 1 inch for this project). For these specific pavers, this would mean digging down about 3-4 inches. Be sure to remove any high spots or humps and fill in any divots within the excavated areas to create a relatively flat surface.
Mark Outlines and Excavate — Excavate for Step Base
Part of project
How to Build Paver Steps into a Hill · Step 1 of 11
In this video
Once the pavers are in their desired preliminary positions, mark the outline of each paver directly onto the ground using spray paint. This creates a clear guide for excavation. After marking, temporarily move all the pavers out of the way. Then, using a shovel, excavate the soil within the marked outlines. The excavation depth should accommodate a gravel base (approximately 2 inches) and a thin layer of leveling sand (approximately 1/4 inch), plus the thickness of your chosen pavers (approximately 1 inch for this project). For these specific pavers, this would mean digging down about 3-4 inches. Be sure to remove any high spots or humps and fill in any divots within the excavated areas to create a relatively flat surface.