DIY How to Prep for Patio Blocks

Place a stake next to the house at the right side of the future patio area and tie a sting to it. The string needs to equal the length of the desired patio area. Tie another stake to the other end of the string and walk it out, away from the wall. Have someone hold a square between the wall of the house and the string, and tell you when the string is at a right angle to the house. Insert the stake.

Tie another string to the second stake. This string should equal the width of the patio. Repeat the right angle test, using the square at the corner formed by the strings on the second stake. Insert the third stake once the string forms a right angle. Repeat again with the fourth stake running back toward the house.

Dig out anything within the patio area, including grass, plants or old hardscaping. Remove grass in clumps along with 1 inch of soil below the surface and set it aside. You can use this sod to patch dead areas in your lawn.

Dig out 5 inches of soil plus the height of the patio blocks from the entire area.

Lay a sheet of polyurethane over the soil to prevent weed growth and slow moisture seepage up through the blocks.

Pour 2 inches of gravel over the plastic sheeting and pack it down with a compactor. Walk the compacting equipment over the gravel in rows, passing over each area twice. with a second 2-inch layer of gravel and repeat the compacting process.

Install landscape edging along the inside walls of the patio area. Slip the stakes, that come included with the edging, through the anchor holes and tap them into the soil. The edging helps keep the blocks from shifting out of place over time.

Add 2 inches of sand over the gravel and pack it down with the compactor.