How Best to Excavate Dirt for Pavers

Small Projects

• A shovel and wheelbarrow work best for small projects. If the area were smaller than 4 or 5 feet in width, the buckets of mechanized equipment would be too large. Shovel the sod into a truck or trailer for ultimate removal from the project area.

DIY Big Projects

• A shovel will work for a large project; it just takes longer and requires a little more sweat and ambition. Use rental equipment, such as a skid steer loader, if you have skills in operating those tools. The skid steer loader is a standard piece of light construction equipment with a front-mounted loader bucket. Use the bucket to scoop up dirt and lift it to the truck or trailer. Even with a loader, some shovel work where the pavers will adjoin buildings is necessary.

Contractors

• Contractors have the proper equipment and skills for removing the sod and dirt from the paver project site. Costs will vary depending on the type of contractor and how much construction work is going on in the area. Consider contractors licensed to work in your area.

Cleaning up

• The soil and sod removed for the paver project are excess materials. They will be replaced with sand and paver blocks. Unless you have low spots in your yard you wish to fill, the dirt removed for the paver project must be hauled off. Depending on the size of the project, heavy dump trucks may be required to remove the soil.