Install Bedding Sand and Lay Pavers
At 0:17 in
a big ol patio
What happens here
After the aggregate base is fully compacted, spread a uniform 1-inch layer of bedding sand over the entire area. Use screed rails (such as PVC pipes or metal conduits) and a straight edge (screed board) to precisely level the sand, ensuring a perfectly flat surface for the pavers. Then, starting from a fixed edge or a corner, begin to lay the pavers tightly together in the desired pattern (a herringbone pattern is visible in the video). Use a rubber mallet to gently tap individual pavers into place if needed to ensure they are seated properly and level with adjacent pavers. Install edge restraints around the perimeter of the paved area to prevent the pavers from shifting or spreading over time, securing them with spikes and a hammer. Use a paver cutter or wet saw with a diamond blade for any necessary cuts to fit pavers along edges or around obstacles. Work from kneeling pads to protect your knees and avoid disturbing the screeded sand bed.
Goal: Create the paver surface in the desired pattern
Tools and materials
- Hammer — Driving spikes to secure the edge restraints
- Kneeling Pads — Providing comfort and protection for the knees during the paver laying process
- Paver Cutter — Cutting pavers to fit along edges, curves, or around obstacles
- Rubber Mallet — Gently tapping individual pavers into place to ensure proper seating and levelness
- Screed Board — Leveling the bedding sand by dragging it across the screed rails
- Screed Rails — Guiding the screed board to achieve a uniform depth of bedding sand
- Bedding Sand — Providing a precise, level, and permeable surface for the pavers to rest on
- Edge Restraints — Securing the perimeter of the paver installation to prevent shifting and spreading
- Pavers — The main surface material of the patio or driveway
- Spikes — Securing the edge restraints to the compacted base