Pavers & Corners

Pavers

• Pavers are an ideal alternative to a traditional brick walkway or patio. Because of the standard size, shape and color of bricks, this material only gives you limited options. Pavers, however, allow you to create a work of art by using different shapes and sizes to build a unique pattern. Pavers are typically gray, red or charcoal, and provide an upgraded look compared to standard bricks.

Corners

• Although it is acceptable to build a walkway or patio entirely with pavers, some styles have specially designed corner pieces to use. These corner pieces are common in "L" shapes and semi-circles. They match the color and style of the standard pavers, but create visual interest where the paver structure ends or turns.

Homemade Corners

• Not every pattern of paver stones offers corners, but this does not need to dissuade you from picking a style you like. Create your own corner pieces by cutting standard pavers to size with a wet saw. To create a corner piece for a curved or bending walkway, for example, cut diagonally through a square paver to give you a triangular shape. Then, place this corner piece in the appropriate corner of your structure.

Placement

• Building a patio or walkway with pavers and corners is not difficult. Dig a hole 8 to 12 inches, remove the dirt and lay landscaping fabric over the entire bottom of the hole. Fill the bottom three-quarters of the hole with gravel, and then wet and tamp stone dust over the gravel until you have a smooth, flat layer. Place the pavers and corners on the stone dust and, when finished, use a broom to sweep sand over the tops of the pavers until it fills the cracks between them.