Completing the Paver Patio with Finishing Touches
At 0:17 in
These backyards are our canvases.
What happens here
With all pavers laid for the patio, fire pit, steps, and landing, the final touches are applied. Install edge restraints around the entire perimeter of the patio and landing where it does not meet a fixed structure. These restraints, typically made of plastic or metal, are nailed into the compacted base to prevent pavers from shifting. After installing the edge restraints, sweep polymeric sand into all paver joints using a stiff-bristle broom, ensuring all gaps are thoroughly filled. Lightly mist the entire patio surface with water following the polymeric sand manufacturer's instructions; this activates the polymers, causing the sand to harden and lock the pavers in place, deterring weeds and insects. Finally, run a plate compactor over the entire paver surface one last time to settle the pavers evenly into the bedding sand and further compact the joint sand, ensuring a durable, interlocked, and stable patio. The video shows workers and tools, indicating a busy construction site that would require final cleanup, including removing debris and excess materials, to present the finished outdoor living space.
Goal: Stabilize the entire paver installation and ensure a professional, durable finish.
Tools and materials
- Edge Restraints — Preventing pavers from shifting laterally
- Garden Hose with Spray Nozzle — Misting the polymeric sand for activation
- General Cleanup Tools — Removing debris and excess materials from the site
- Landscape Nails or Spikes — Securing edge restraints to the base
- Plate Compactor with Rubber Mat — Final compaction of pavers and joint sand
- Stiff Bristle Broom — Sweeping polymeric sand into paver joints
- Polymeric Sand — Filling and hardening paver joints to lock pavers in place and deter weeds