How to Build a Paver Deck

Lay out the design of your deck or patio with marking paint or with wooden stakes connected by nylon cords. This will create a guide for your building process.

Dig out your installation area to a depth of 7 inches, unless otherwise instructed by your building code office. This will allow you enough space to provide adequate support for your pavers.

Compact the excavated area with a plate compactor or hand tamper. This will flatten your base surface, giving you a completely level surface to start off with.

Cover the exposed soil with a layer of landscape fabric, which will aid in water drainage while ensuring that the soil does not wash away with the water. Landscape fabric will also prevent weeds from growing up between the pavers in your deck.

Lay a 4-inch thick layer of patio paver base material or gravel on top of the landscape fabric. Spread the material in an even layer and then compact or tamp the surface to make it completely flat. This material allows for drainage and provides a stable surface to support the pavers.

Finish the foundation bed with a 1 inch layer of leveling sand, spread evenly across the surface and compacted or tamped. This flat but also pliable surface is the final layer before you set your pavers.

Lay your first paver into place in one corner of your installation area. Set a level on top to make sure it sits completely flat; tap the paver into place with a rubber mallet, if necessary, to make it level.

Set more pavers in your desired design, checking each for level with the surrounding pavers to maintain a completely flat surface. If necessary, cut pavers to fit around obstacles or along the edges of the installation area with a diamond blade wet saw, available for rent or purchase from hardware and home improvement retailers. Continue until all pavers are installed.

Surround the installed pavers with plastic edging material, which will prevent the pavers from shifting under stress or pressure. Drive metal stakes into the designated holes at 30 to 45 degree angles to hold the material in place.

Spread a thin layer of leveling sand over the top of the paver surface. Use a push broom to work the sand into the joints between pavers, filing in all gaps for a more uniform design. Moisten the surface and fill in any remaining gaps.

Compact or tamp the surface of the patio once more to ensure that all of the sand has settled.