Prepare Base and Lay Initial Pavers
At 0:00 in
It’s just the honest truth
What happens here
While not explicitly shown in the video, a successful paver installation always begins with thorough site preparation. This typically involves excavating the area to the correct depth, laying down geotextile fabric to prevent weed growth and improve stability, and then adding and compacting a gravel sub-base. Following this, a leveling layer of paver sand is screeded to the desired grade. Once the base is prepared and level, full-sized pavers are laid out according to the design pattern, filling the main area before custom cuts are made for edges and curves. The video begins at a point where a significant portion of this initial paver laying has already been completed.
Goal: Establish a stable foundation and main paver layout
Tools and materials
- Geotextile Fabric — Stabilizing the sub-base and preventing weed growth through the pavers
- Knee Pads — Protecting knees while working on the ground
- Leveling Screeds — Creating a perfectly level and consistent sand bedding layer
- Measuring Tape — Measuring dimensions and verifying squareness of the area
- Plate Compactor — Compacting the gravel sub-base and paver sand layer
- Shovel — Excavating the area and spreading base materials
- String Lines — Establishing straight lines and grades for the paver layout
- Wheelbarrow — Transporting excavated soil and base materials
- Crushed Stone/Gravel — Creating the compacted sub-base for structural support
- Paver Sand — Providing a leveling bed for the pavers
- Pavers — The main surfacing material for the pathway/patio