How to Lay River Pebble Pavers

Design the patio or walkway using a piece of graph paper. Measure the space and multiply the length by the width to determine how many square feet you need. Use an online calculator to determine how many pavers to purchase. Buy at least 10 percent more product than you need to allow for breakage.

Clear off the area where you plan to install the project. Dig at least 8 inches deep with either a shovel if it's a small project, or a rented front-end loader for larger projects. Ensure the final grade is level.

Pour 2 inches of gravel into the prepared area. Level it. Compact the gravel with a plate compactor. Add 2 more inches of gravel and compact it. Finish this step with an additional 2 inches of compacted gravel.

Add 1 inch of coarse sand over the compacted gravel. Compact the sand. Check that it is level.

Set a river pebble paver onto the sand bed so that an outside edge is along the outer perimeter. Leave a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch gap between the first paver and the next one. Continue setting the outer pavers around the perimeter of the project. Check with the level that the pavers remain level as you set them.

Fill in the remaining portion of the patio or walkway with pavers. Cut pavers to fit if needed. Continue to space them 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch apart.

Set landscape edgers or timbers in place at grade, or ground, level along the outer edge of the project. Anchor edgers with the anchors that come with them. Put rebar stakes through the predrilled holes in the landscape timbers to anchor them to the ground. Compact the area again to settle the pavers into the sand. To protect the surface of the river pebble pavers, place a urethane pad between the pavers and the compactor.

Sprinkle paving joint mortar or sand over the joints. Use a push broom to push the mortar or sand into the joints. Once each joint is full, use a jointing tool to give each joint a finished appearance.

Compact the area, using the urethane pad, one last time.