Cast Stone Installation

Prepare the site for the installation of the stone by excavating the area in which the pavers are to be laid. Use the flat-bladed shovel for this to skim grass off of the surface, and then digging to a depth of approximately 10 inches. Use the framing level to ensure that the base of your excavation is level.

Pack the ground in the excavation with the soil compactor. This is a tool that can be rented from any home improvement store. Gasoline-powered, they jump up and down on the surface, packing the dirt.

Dump the base gravel into the excavation and spread it evenly over the base to provide a 6-inch bed of gravel. When the paver base is spread out, use the soil compactor again to level out the gravel and pack it into place.

Fill the remainder of the excavation with the paver base sand. The sand level should reach all the way to the rim of the excavation. Once it is packed down, it will provide approximately 1 1/2 inches of depth on which to install the cast stone pavers. Pack the paver base sand with the soil compactor.

Lay the cast stone directly on top of the packed paver base beginning at one corner of the installation site. Butt the side of the cast stone against the dirt and grass, and interlock the edges of the cast stone as you install them to provide a tight fit. Continue adding cast stone pavers until the installation is complete. The cast stone may settle slightly over time, but as long as the paver bases are packed firmly, it's unlikely you'll notice.