How to Replace a Front Yard With Pavement

Clearing and Forms

• 1

  Use the shovel to dig up any plant life growing on the area that you want to pave. If the area is large, you may want to rent a front-end loader or similar machinery to speed the process up.

• 2

  Use the chop saw to cut stakes out of the 1-by-4 pieces of lumber. Cut the 1-by-4 boards in to 2-foot lengths. Make two diagonal cuts on one end of the board so it is pointed.

• 3

  Measure out the length of each side of the area you plan to pave. Cut the 2-by-4 pieces of lumber, with the chop saw, into lengths that will fit along each side of the paving area.

• 4

  Nail stakes to the 2-by-4's every 3 to 4 feet along the 4-inch-side.

• 5

  Surround the area you plan to pave with 2-by-4's by pounding the stakes into the ground, with the stakes on the outside of the surrounded area. The 2-by-4's will act as forms for the concrete.

• 6

  Use the bubble level on the tripod to ensure that it is level. If your tripod does not have a bubble level, you can use a handheld level placed on the base of the tripod to check it. Place the dumpy level on top of the tripod.

• 7

  Have a friend hold the measuring stick at various points around the 2-by-4 forms. Sight the measuring stick with the dumpy level, and ensure that the forms are level, assuming you want your pavement to be level. Be sure to slope the forms slightly away from the house if the pavement will be butting up against the house.

• 8

  Raise or lower your forms by adding or subtracting dirt from beneath them.

Concrete

• 9

  Add the concrete mixture with water, as directed by the packaging of the concrete mixture, to the electric mixer. You will need enough concrete to complete the job, so you may need to fill, empty and refill the electric mixer several times as you work.

• 10

  Test the consistency of the concrete by filling a paper cup with concrete, flipping the cup over and slowly pulling the cup away. Concrete with the ideal consistency will crumble to about half the height of the cup.

• 11

  Fill the wheelbarrow with concrete mixture and pour the concrete into the forms. Repeat until the forms are filled. If you run out of concrete you will need to work quickly to make more.

• 12

  Smooth the surface of the concrete with a trowel once it has been poured. Use a broom trowel if the area is particularly large, and you can not reach the inner areas. Sweep across the surface with slow, even movements.

• 13

  Allow the concrete to dry. This usually takes one to two days, depending upon the weather conditions.