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When my wife and I bought our current home in May 2013, we were ecstatic. The house was beautiful, even if the landscaping needed some help. I revived the dying lawn, tamed the overgrown shrubs, and even planted a few rose bushes. This was fun, but my mind was on one grand idea from the start:
I wanted to build a paver patio. 100% DIY. With my bare hands.
So, I did my research and learned the project could be very budget friendly if I selected quality, affordable materials and went with a basic design. The techniques seemed simple enough as well, even for someone who isn’t very handy – like me.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Build a Paver Patio
After months of planning, scheming at Menards and Home Depot, and buying several pallets of materials, I got started on my patio project on the first day of summer vacation. If a teacher like me – with modest DIY skills – can build his own paver patio in a matter of days, you can, too.
Follow my step by step guide below to build a paver patio and begin enjoying your own backyard oasis in no time.
Step 1: Prepare For Your Paver Patio Project (Purchase Tools, Calculate Materials Needed, and Apply For a Permit)
If you’re ready to get started but find yourself asking, “What tools do I need to build a paver patio?”, here’s some good news: You won’t need too many tools to build a paver patio.
Make a list of the following tools, check out your inventory in the garage, and then buy the rest.
What Tools Do I Need to Build a Paver Patio?
- Garden spade
- Garden shovel
- Hose
- Mist nozzle
- Wheelbarrow
- Landscaping gloves
- Hand tamper
- Landscaping stakes
- Landscaping string
- Tape measure
- Level
- Rake
- Push broom
- Sharpie markers
- Marking paint (Rustoleum Marking Spray Paint or similar)
- Plate compactor (optional – rent locally)
- Safety goggles
- Landscaping fabric
- Landscaping nails
- Celebratory beverages of your choice (Summer Shandy worked for me)
- Rubber mallett
What Materials Do I Need to Build a Paver Patio?
- Paver stones (*Note: I chose tumbled Belgian pavers for aesthetic reasons, but there are hundreds of paver and design options available. Check below to see some of the most popular designs.)
- 1 inch PVC pipe, cut to the length of the widest walkway you will build (Quantity will vary – minimum 2 recommended)
- Paver base
- Paver leveling sand
- Paver locking sand
- Paver sealant (optional, but highly recommended to preserve your hard work)
- Paver edging and/or paver edging stones
- 2”x4” wood joist (cut to appropriate length)
How Do I Calculate Quantities of Pavers, Paver Base, and Paver Sand?
Full transparency – the materials calculation can be the most difficult part of building your paver patio. It is entirely possible to create your own calculations using a simple calculator and pen/paper, but you’ll be wasting a lot of effort.
I fully recommended visiting your local Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, or other home improvement store to seek out their assistance when calculating quantities of pavers, paver base, and paver sand you’ll need for your project.
Provide your store associate a drawing/blueprint of your intended design, and they will be able to help you calculate the number of cubic yards of paver base and leveling sand you require.
Calculating the number of paver stones needed will depend heavily on your design. I recommend purchasing an additional 10% over your minimum calculated needs to protect yourself from extra trips when pavers inevitably break or have color inconsistencies.
This will also come in handy if somebody spills a drink, BBQ grease, or sticky substance on your hard work down the road. You’ll be able to simply use a flat head screwdriver to lift up the ruined paver, replace it with a new one, and call it a day.
How to Get a Permit for Your Paver Patio Hassle-Free
If you live in a non-HOA neighborhood and have an understanding and easy-going local government, congratulations! The rest of us officially hate you, but you’re one lucky guy/gal. Youre ready to build a paver patio, so move on to Step 2!
For the rest of you: my best advice is to be patient. Your HOA and local building department will ask you to jump through hoop after hoop after hoop before they’ll give you a permit.
Contact them well in advance of the date you plan to start your project, and play nice with them at every step of the way. You will get your permit if you follow the rules.
Step 2: Choose and Prepare the Area
When I decided to build a paver patio, I had only a few possibilities for its location because our backyard is small. In the end, I decided to build it adjacent to an existing concrete patio. This choice helped me determine the dimensions of the area which I needed to prepare. With my dimensions decided, I marked the area using a tape measure, landscaping stakes, and line marking spray paint.
PRO TIP: If the area you plan to build upon is currently covered with grass, use your lawn mower to cut the area as short as possible after measuring.
You will also need to remove additional grass and soil beyond the eventual boarder of your patio, so be sure to include an additional 12-16” on all sides of the dimensions as you mark them. If you want to put this sod back later, you can always keep it stacked in a shady area and keep it moist using your garden hose.
Step 3: Remove Grass, Sod, and Soil
With your measurements complete and construction area prepped, you are ready to remove the grass and soil.
Depending upon your soil type, you may be able to complete this step using hand powered landscaping tools and lots of elbow grease. If you have lots of rock hard clay, be prepared for a battle with Mother Nature.
Using a sharpened garden spade, I recommend removing square foot sections of sod by outlining sections and lifting them individually into your wheel barrow – in my case I also used a trustworthy Red Flyer wagon.
PRO TIP: If you have unusually dry soil or, as in my case, find yourself dealing with rocky and dry clay, run a sprinkler for 30 minutes the evening prior to excavating the grass and soil. It will make it easier to loosen the sod.
With all of the grass/sod removed, you are ready to remove an adequate amount of soil. Depending upon your local building requirements, you may have to remove up to 12” of soil to allow for adequate space for compacted paver base in the next step. Especially if you live in a cold climate, you will want to be sure to provide a base which more than adequately supports your patio.
As your soil allows, you should aim to remove soil in a manner consistent with the desired grade of your planned patio.
Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT want a perfectly flat and level paver patio.
It is usually best to design your patio with a very slight pitch angled away from the foundation of your home to ensure that water runs away from the foundation of your home – a level patio is only desirable in rare circumstances.
Step 4: Add Paver Base and Compact It Tightly
If you purchased bags of paver base, move them into the now excavated area using your wheelbarrow. If you ordered a mass delivery from a landscape supplier, you’ll have to endure the tedious task of shoveling it into a wheelbarrow only to dump it out moments later.
Dump the base in consistent, even layers throughout the entire area and rake the base to spread it evenly. Periodically pause and use your hand tamper to ensure that the paver base is tight and compact. You will also went to lightly wet the area using the mister nozzle on your hose as you tamp it.
I saved a significant amount of money by using a hand tamper rather than renting a plate compactor, but my forearms and biceps paid dearly for this decision. If you are using a hand tamper, I recommend tamping each square foot of your base approximately 100 times to ensure that your base is firm and secure.
Need I remind you about the man who built his house on shifting sands? Making sure you have a solid paver base is well worth the extra time.
PRO TIP: When your base is secure, measure, cut, and place your landscaping fabric over the top of the base. Secure it using landscaping nails. This step is optional, but it will greatly cut down on weed intrusion in the future.
Step 5: Add and Level Paver Sand
Place your pre-cut 1 inch PVC pipes on top of your firmly tamped paver base. Carefully pour leveling sand in between the PVC pipes and on all sides in two to three feet increments.
Then place your 2”x4” on the PVC pipes and screed, or drag, the board across the pipes gently to level the paver sand. While you can access the area, gently lift out the PVC pipes, fill and level those voids with leveling sand, and replace the pipes along the path.
Continue this process until the entire patio area is covered with paver leveling sand.
Step 6: Place the Paver Stones Individually
Prior to placing your paver stones, pick a corner or side to start in and very lightly mist the paver leveling sand. Begin laying the paver stones according to pattern you designed while being careful not to drag the stones across the leveling sand. Set adjacent paver stones to be snug against neighboring stones. I recommend gently tapping them into place using a rubber mallet.
If you’re looking to build a paver patio featuring an easy design, a basket weave or herringbone pattern is classic and timeless (again, you can check out some of the most popular design options below to get some ideas). These designs are also time-savers, as they don’t require any cutting.
I went with a modified basket weave pattern (see picture to the right) to add character. Continue following your design pattern until all stones are in place while ensuring that you lightly mist sections of leveling sand before continuing. It is also very helpful to have another person hand you stones of varying colors while you complete this step to make sure your pattern features a good aesthetic balance.
When all of your paver stones are in place, step back and be sure that you did not make any errors with your pattern. When you’re ready to move on, add edging stones or other edging materials to ensure that your paver patio retains its shape. Secure them using landscaping nails.
Step 7: Finish the Job!
When all of your paver stones are in place and edging is completed, you are ready to secure the paver stones in place.
Pour a fine layer of paver locking sand on top of your patio and use a push broom to fill all of the gaps between adjacent paver stones. When all of the gaps are filled, gently sweep away excess paver locking sand. Then spray a very, very light mist of water over the patio. The water will activate the paver locking sand and help your patio retains its form.
Repeat the procedure above again when the paver locking sand joints appear to be dry. You may need to perform this step several times until all the gaps are filled. If you’ve rented a plate compactor, gently run the compactor across the patio service. Make a single pass in each direction to uniformly compact the paver stones.
It’s time to bask in glory! Grab a beverage of your choice, pull up a chair, and celebrate. You just built a paver patio!
Step 8: Seal Your Paver Patio
This step is optional but highly recommended if you’ve taken the time to build a paver patio. Using a commercially-available concrete or paver stone sealant will add many years to the life of your paver patio.
All products will come with slightly different instructions, and it is best to follow them precisely. I applied my sealant using an all-purpose roller and have since re-applied once each year. Nearly four years later, my paver patio still looks new!
After you have finished this step, you will want to ornament the patio with soil, small annuals, mulch, and perennials (see above). This extra touch will complete the process of transforming your drab backyard into a new outdoor oasis!
Paver Patio FAQs
Still have questions? These common paver patio frequently asked questions will clear things up.
How Much Will It Cost to Build a Paver Patio?
The best thing about installing your own paver patio is that it is very cost effective!
On average, a concrete patio costs somewhere around $15 per square foot when professionally poured with intricate designs. If you opt to go the extreme basic route, you should still expect to pay between $2.50 and $8 per square foot, according to Home Advisor.
Comparatively, a paver patio can be built for far less than $15 per square foot and provide much more character and beauty to your landscaping.
Of course, this will depend heavily upon your choice of paver stones. But it is entirely possible to build a paver patio for less than $2.50 per square foot if you choose materials carefully and commit to sticking to your budget.
If you opt to have a paver patio installed professionally, expect to pay between $8 and $15 per square foot.
When we built a 12′ by 12′ paver patio in 2014, our total cost was just over $1,100.
Is Paver Base Really Necessary?
In a word, yes. Paver base will keep your patio stable and in place for years to come.
That said, there are some new and cutting edge alternatives to paver base that may be worth checking out. Gravel paver base is tried and true, and it’s still used for roads in the form of grade 9 base. But there are other options.
How Deep Should My Paver Base Be?
When it comes to laying a firm paver base that will last for years to come, we recommend following the instructions of your local building department when you apply for your permit.
Your building department should have established standards of paver base depth based upon the temperature fluctuations in your zone.
That said, the deeper your paver base, the better it will be able to withstand foot traffic and years of wear and tear.
What Paver Patio Design Options Do I Have?
Designing a paver patio is one of the most fun parts of the entire project, in our opinion. But it can be a bit overwhelming.
Here are our 3 favorite paver patio patterns:
- Herringbone
- Stack bond (basically, all four corners of uniform sized pavers meet together at all times)
- Running bond (this pattern requires some cutting)
Essentially, you can modify these patterns or combine them in any way to make virtually any pattern your mind can create.
For a first time DIY paver project, we recommend keeping it simple and going with a simple no-cut option.
Get Started!
Now that you know how easy it is to build a paver patio – even if you have limited DIY skills – it’s time to start planning your project. With the right amount of patience, planning, and preparation, you can transform your boring backyard into an outdoor oasis!
Mrs. Picky Pincher says
March 9, 2017 at 6:57 AMThat patio looks FANTASTIC! Luckily our home came with one already, and it’s been an awesome way to enjoy more space for grilling and gardening. Right now we’re building raised beds out of pavers and hooo boy. I forgot how heavy pavers are. It’s a lot of work but it’ll look fantastic once everything’s done. 🙂
Hero says
March 9, 2017 at 7:52 AMThanks, Mrs. Picky Pincher! I imagine you’re getting in your daily workout and then some building raised beds with pavers, especially if your pavers are larger than the small Belgian pavers I used. It would be great to see a post about your project when you’re finished!
Sam Hickey says
March 18, 2017 at 11:22 AMIf you are interested in installing a paver patio then you need know the measurements regarding which spot you want it, or which shape you want it in. Homes can really be enhanced and made to look wonderful through this process. However DIY can be fun but when the question of the house look rise then you should prefer an experienced person that knew about the pros and cons. Although they have beautifully described all the steps but it is not as easy as it seems.
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Jack Titchener says
August 4, 2017 at 8:28 AMI wish I knew what paver sealants and locking sand were! My wife and I are thinking about redoing our driveway, but have zero experience with the materials and structure design. I might just consider hiring someone to come out here and pave everything instead, thanks!