How to Pave a Yard

Know your city's code. Before paving your yard, check with your city to see if it has code requirements, such as green space. Your city may also require a permit before beginning work.

Determine your material. A paved yard can be made from a variety of materials, from stones to brick, concrete, clay and granite. Your material may be based on your intended use of the yard. If you plan on using part of the yard as driveway space, consider materials that can better handle an automobile's weight and a car's liquids, like oil, that may fall on the driveway.

Decide who will handle the work. If hiring a contractor is a possibility, begin getting estimates. Hiring a contractor can be more costly, with labor accounting for a high percentage of the cost of the project. However, contractors typically have the necessary tools, materials and experience to pave over a yard.

If you plan on doing the work, begin by taking measurements of the area you plan to pave and draw up a plan that reflects what you want the yard to look like. You may need to present these plans to your city government to get the necessary construction permits.

Using a sod cutter and shovel, excavate the yard, removing any grass, top soil and plants that will be covered by the paved area. When excavating, slope the land slightly downward away from the house. This way, water will run off the property and not puddle on the paved area. Check with your city to see if there are any slope requirements for yards.

Prepare the area for paving. Using a rotary tiller, level out any holes or uneven patches. If you choose to cover the yard with paving stone, for example, lay about an inch of compacted sand below it. However, if you choose to use concrete, place planks of wood around the edges of the yard. This will hold the concrete in place while it dries.

Proceed with applying the final layer of paving material on top. If you use paving stone, place the stones in the pattern of your choosing and fill any gaps with another material, such as sand. If you lay down concrete, pour the concrete mixture within the planks of wood. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for allowing the mixture to dry.