PICK YOUR PATTERN

Here’s how

PREPARE YOUR BASE

STEP 1 Excavate for your pavers. Allow for a 75mm-thick roadbase bed, 30mm for paving sand, then add your paver thickness. Excavate a slightly larger area as the bed is laid larger than the finished edges of the paving.

STEP 2 Spread out an 85mmdeep layer of roadbase, which will go down to 75mm when compacted. Use a plate compactor over the roadbase, wetting it occasionally as you go.

STEP 3 Lay a 35mm-thick layer of paving sand over the roadbase.

STEP 4 Use a float to smooth an area of sand so a paver will sit on it at the finished height. Repeat at the other end, taking into account the slope, if any. Set up a stringline between these 2 pavers. Repeat to set up more stringlines over your paved area, spaced apart slightly less than the length of your screed.

STEP 5 Use your screed to make tracks in the sand, which are below the stringline by the thickness of your paver. Repeat for all stringlines.

STEP 6 Lay screed rails in the tracks, rest the screed on them and scrape back the sand between them. Slide the rails down your tracks if they are longer than the rails. Move screed rails over as you work across your area.

LAY YOUR PAVERS

STEP 7 Set up stringlines along the edges of your paved area. If doing a pattern like herringbone or basketweave, set up a stringline down the centre so your pattern will end up symmetrical.

STEP 8 Starting from 1 end, or along the centre stringline for patterns, lay pavers on the sand. When laying, hold the paver against the edge of those already laid then bring it down so it lands flat on the sand. Leave a 2mm gap between pavers. Use a rubber mallet to bed pavers in the sand and make them flush with each other. At the edges where cuts are required, lay full pavers past the line of the cut.

STEP 9 To mark for cutting, lay a straightedge along the cutting line so it’s sitting on the part you want to keep. Run a permanent marker along it to mark each paver. Also mark the waste side of the paver so you know where to cut.

STEP 10 Remove each paver to cut with the hired brick saw. Before starting the machine, sit the paver on the sliding tray of the saw and line up the blade with the cut line. Start the saw and carefully move the paver through the blade.

STEP 11 Replace the cut pieces back in position. Lay a header course if your design calls for it.

FINISH OFF

STEP 12 Make a mortar mix of brickie’s sand and cement in the ratio of 4:1. Make the mix pretty dry so it holds its shape. Remove excess paving sand and roadbase from outside the pavers. Shovel the mortar mix next to the pavers and use a trowel to smooth off the sides on a 45° angle. Make the haunch finish halfway up the paver so it’s not visible from above. Leave to set for 48 hours. STEP 13 Spread washed sand over the pavers and sweep it into the gaps. To further compact the pavers, tie a piece of scrap carpet to the plate compactor with wire and run it over them. Sweep more sand into the gaps then do another pass with the compactor. STEP 14 To protect your pavers from staining, apply a sealer to them. A penetrating sealer soaks into the paver and doesn’t alter their appearance. A wet-look sealer is a surface coating with a glossy finish. This may not be suitable in areas where a slip hazard exists, such as around a pool.

Don’t be put off by what seems like a big job. Take your time and do it step by step. You’ll be amazed at what you can do!