New garage and home build

[Pixguy]

I'm considering building a back "deck" out of pavers. Any tips on how to do that?? What's under them?

I've bought another 140sp ft. of pavers for an area behind the house where's there's grass now so I'll be doing the same next spring.

 

[ovrszd]

In Missouri where you do get frost, I'd get rid of any topsoil, dark material that'd hold moisture, then add 6" of gravel and 1" of rough sand. At least that's how I was told to do it. The old timers still use stone dust instead of sand but it can hold moisture and heave so I did sand. It's not going to be a good patio if it's heaved or uneven in a couple of years.

That's my vision as well. I've heard to sweep fine sand over the top once laid to fill in any voids between the stones?

That'll be a next Spring project. Thanks for the reply!!!

 

[Pixguy]

That's my vision as well. I've heard to sweep fine sand over the top once laid to fill in any voids between the stones?

That'll be a next Spring project. Thanks for the reply!!!

Sand swept in will wor until the moss, grass or ants get going. I'm using a professional polymer sand in the spring after I plate compact it all.

I forgot, rent a plate compactor and compact all the gravel and then the sand again.

 

[ovrszd]

Sand swept in will wor until the moss, grass or ants get going. I'm using a professional polymer sand in the spring after I plate compact it all.

I forgot, rent a plate compactor and compact all the gravel and then the sand again.

Good point about sand over top. Also about the compactor.

Are you planning to run a plate compactor over your stones? Not worried about breaking them?

Thanks again for the reply!!!

 

[Pixguy]

Good point about sand over top. Also about the compactor.

Are you planning to run a plate compactor over your stones? Not worried about breaking them?

Thanks again for the reply!!!

Anytime Richard, I will compact the pavers and no, as long as they're not on uneven sand you'll be fine. Of course you'd just get a 15X15 or 15X18 compactor.

 

[ovrszd]

Anytime Richard, I will compact the pavers and no, as long as they're not on uneven sand you'll be fine. Of course you'd just get a 15X15 or 15X18 compactor.

Awesome. Thanks for the tips!!!! I'll report my results when I'm done.

 

[Ford850]

I'll add what I learned from installing a few paver walks and a patio about 15 years ago. I did just as Pixguy said, but I should have done better in a couple ways. Before adding the gravel base, make sure the soil is graded and compacted in a smooth plane. I left a few low and high spots that were only an inch off, figuring the gravel will fill and level everything on top of that soils anyway, and that affected the patio after a few years. The other thing is make sure your prepped pad is 8"-12" beyond your planned paver area. I skimped a bit and some of the edges settled.

 

[ovrszd]

Good stuff Mark!!!

My standards are usually higher than my abilities.... I would expect that patience is required in the whole aspect of it. I'll be building a 12x12 patio I guess you'd call it. On fairly flat ground with a slight slope away from the house. I'd like it to be flush with the ground or just slightly above the existing grade.

No edging materials involved?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

In Missouri where you do get frost, I'd get rid of any topsoil, dark material that'd hold moisture, then add 6" of gravel and 1" of rough sand. At least that's how I was told to do it. The old timers still use stone dust instead of sand but it can hold moisture and heave so I did sand. It's not going to be a good patio if it's heaved or uneven in a couple of years.

I'm an old timer who believes in the stone dust; if packed properly it will not move around. Coarse sand is OK, but the ants love it, and seeds will germinate vs the stone dust which is inert.

 

[Pixguy]

I'm an old timer who believes in the stone dust; if packed properly it will not move around. Coarse sand is OK, but the ants love it, and seeds will germinate vs the stone dust which is inert.

I agree and that's why I'm using the polymer.

I have pavers in Florida on driveway and lanai and we constantly have to kill weeds and spray mold on the north side. I did use the home despot's polymer there but put the pavers are tight and that junk didn't work.

PS, you are old!