How to Lay Off, Level & Prepare Ground for a Patio

Spray paint the ground to outline the patio's location. Make the area slightly larger than the finished patio to allow for the patio edging restraints.

Dig a trench over the spray paint lines. Make the trench approximately 7 inches deep. Dig out the ground inside the trenches, approximately 7 inches deep. Lay a 4-foot level on the ground. Dig away more soil from any high areas. Drive a plate compactor over the dug-out area.

Lay landscape fabric over the dug out area. Cut the landscape fabric extending past the area with a scissors. Overlap strips of fabric by 3 or 4 inches. Pour patio-paver base onto the landscape fabric. Use a metal garden rake to spread it out into an even 4-inch layer. Lay the 4-foot level on the patio-paver base to check its levelness.

Moisten the patio-paver base with water from a garden hose. Do not soak it but make it wet enough that it clumps together. Drive the plate compactor over the base material.

Cut 1-inch PVC pipes to the same length as the patio area, using a hacksaw. Lay the pipes about 3 to 4 feet apart, across the patio area. Pour leveling sand over the entire patio area. Lay a 2-by-4-inch board on top of the pipes. Start at one of the area's ends and drag the board forward, over the pipes, to create a level 1-inch layer of sand.

Lift the pipes out of the patio area. Fill the grooves they left behind with leveling sand. Moisten the leveling sand with water from a garden hose.