PROJECT LAYING PAVERS

You’re left with bare earth where the garden beds once sat. Tidy up a corner with pavers, use the space for a barbecue, and keep paving for new raised garden beds and seating.

Gather your supplies

• Roadbase

• Brickie’s sand

• Cement

• 400 x 400mm pavers

• Small river pebbles

You’ll also need

Shovel; spirit level; heavy wooden block; rubber mallet; trowel

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use a shovel to excavate the area needed to accommodate pavers. Allow for 80mm plus the thickness of the paver below the finished ground level.

STEP 2 Lay a level bed of roadbase about 50mm thick and use a heavy block of wood to make a tamper to make it compact.

STEP 3 Mix brickie’s sand and cement in the ratio of 4:1 with water to make mortar. Make the mix on the stiff side.

STEP 4 Lay a bed of mortar and then sit a paver on top. Use a rubber mallet to push paver into mortar, and make sure it’s level.

STEP 5 Continue laying mortar and pavers, leaving a 40mm gap between stones. Make sure pavers are level with each other. Use a trowel to push mortar under pavers so they are fully supported.

STEP 6 Fill gaps lying between pavers with small river pebbles.

STEP 2