How to Lay Paving
Ground Preparation
Remove all topsoil and dig down enough to reach hard ground for a good foundation.
Work out finished level of paving, work out falls in finished surface to remove surface water and calculate level of top of stone base by deducting depth of paver and 50mm (2 inch) for bed of sand.
For patios, a minimum of 100mm (4 inch) of stone is preferred, while under a driveway, use a minimum of 150mm (6 inch). (ask supplier for recommendations on stone type to use.)
Lay stone to required depth and compact with plate vibrator. Make up and compact where necessary to leave only 50mm (2 inch) of base sand depth.
Lay kerb or header paver as edge restraint.
You are now ready to begin paving area.
Sand Laying Course
Choose a coarse concrete sand. Spread an even layer deep enough to allow for compaction. |
Sand Compaction
Make sure to overlap all passes with vibrating plate. |
Set up Screeds
Top of board set to 5mm (one eighth of an inch) above finished level for bottom of paver. Set boards to create falls to drainage gullies or channels etc. |
Screeding
Always screed off compacted sand, add more sand and compact if sand not high enough. |
Fill remaining area
|
Screed off remaining areas
|
Laying Paving
Set up a builders line as a guide to begin laying paving blocks. |
Lay all blocks
|
Lay header / string course
This also leaves cutting much easier. |
Cut Blocks
Use either power saw or guillotine. Carry out all cutting before moving to next process. |
Compact Paving
Compact entire area. Do not compact closer than 1 metre from any unrestrained edge. |
Fill joints
Fill joints level to top of pavers. |
Compact Sand
Compact sand into joints using plate vibrator. |
Top up Joints
Top up joints with jointing sand. Remove excess sand from surface leaving only a small amount on the surface. |
Set up levels to create falls to gullies or channels.
Compact sand using a plate vibrator. 
Set up screed boards in sand. 
Screed sand on top of screed boards with a straight
piece of timber or aluminium. 
When sand screeded remove the screed boards
fill and compact the void left. 
Carefully screed off these areas
to level of surrounding sand. 
Choose pattern to lay paving to. 
Continue laying until all full blocks
have been laid. 
Lay header or string courses along edges to create feature. 
Choose method of cutting blocks along edges. 
After checking and adjusting straightness
of lines begin compacting paving with plate vibrator. 
Spread jointing sand and brush into joints.