Installing paving stones may seem like a difficult and tedious task. Designing, getting the measurements right, and the entire installation process may pose too much of a challenge. In the world of today, information is fast at hand and everything can now be done by yourself. Here are seven easy steps on how to install paving stones, made simple just for you.

1.    Visualize what you want – The first step is to visualize how you would want your stone paving to look like. Think about how you would want them to look, then work from there. You will find that with so much variety of paver stones nowadays, what you have in mind will certainly be available in the market. Keep in mind your budget and the materials you would like to use.

2.    Plan the area – With the appearance already set, you would now need to plan the area. You can make use of graphing paper to get a more scaled drawing. Keep in mind that adequate drainage would be needed, and make sure that the pavement slopes away from other structures.

3.    Gather you materials – By now, you may already have an idea on the number of pavers you will need. It would be best to purchase about 5-10% more than  the amount you were initially planning to use. Materials needed are safety goggles, kneepads, glovesconcrete paving stones, natural paving stones or interlocking paving stones, sand, gravel, plywood, plate compactor, landscape fabric, tape measure, string, rubber mallet, wood stakes, 48-inch level, small sledgehammer, pencil, framing square, brick hammer, pitching chisel, spade, and a broom.

4.    Mark the area – Make use of wooden stakes and strings for this. Mark the area at the sides of the slope of the pavement to allow you to stay within the premises, and to assist in working neatly.

5.    Excavate the area – When excavating, bear in mind the three layers that you will have to install. First is the foundation. This is usually made of crushed stones and will take up about 4-6” if the pavement is to be used for walking, and 12” if it is for driveway paving. The second layer is composed of sand. This is what holds the pavers in place. This will take up around 1-1.5”. The third layer is the stone paving slabs. You would want them to be higher than the ground, so water will not puddle on them.

When excavating, go 6-12” beyond the boundary. This is to provide you room for the installment of edge restraints.

6.    Install the three layers – First, make sure to compact the base with a plate compactor every time you lay 2” of the rocks. This ensures that the base is well compacted. Second, establish the edge restraints. This is to keep the shape of the pavement. Edge restraints are usually made of aluminum, steel or plastic. Third, apply the sand. Make sure to screed the sand to have a smooth and even layer. Finally, you can now install the pavers. Leave a 1/16” to 1/18” gap between the stone paving slabs.

7.    Compacting and sealing the pavers – Use the plate compactor to secure the paver stones into place.  Once this is done, sweep sand into the gaps. Sand acts to lock the pavers in place. Make sure the sand is dry when you do this. Finally, seal the pavers with sealing product.

Now that you have these steps in mind, you may now start your own paving stone installation. Now you can say you have made your own driveway paving stones, garden paving stones, or patio paving stones!