Paver Tools

Shovel

• Every paver project begins with excavation, and the shovel is the traditional tool for the job. Basically two types of shovels exist: the round-nose shovel and the square-nose shove. The curved edge of the round nose shovel easily plunges into the ground for digging while the straight edge of the square-nose shovel hugs the ground for scooping. Both types of shovels are useful for paver installation even if a paver base rests only a few inches below the ground.

Rake

• A rake pushes, distributes smooths the paver base's soil, sand substrate and gravel substrate. The two types of rakes suited to paver base preparation are the bow rake and the landscape rake. Many gardeners are familiar with the bow rake; its rigid tines protrude at a right angle from a sturdy, metal head. The landscape rake is essentially a professional-grade version of the bow rake. The primary difference between the bow rake and the landscape rake is head width; the bow rake's head is roughly 2-feet wide, and the landscape rake's head is 3- to 4-feet wide.

Level

• Several types of building levels allow the builder to accurately stake the perimeter and edging of a paver installation, level the paver base substrate and align adjacent pavers. Builders use a string line level to lay out the perimeter and edging of a paver base. To level substrate, many builders place a mason's spirit level or carpenter's spirit level on top of a screed. Builders also use spirit levels to align adjacent pavers during installation.

Chisel and Mallet

• The traditional method of cutting bricks and pavers is a swift pound from a chisel and mallet. Paver installers typically use two types of chisel to cut pavers: a cold chisel to score the paver's surface and a broad-edged bolster chisel to deliver the severing strike. During paver installation, the mallet provides more than a strike to the chisel's butt; the builder uses a mallet to pound and set pavers in place.

Paver Power Tools and Equipment

• The two most common power tools used during paver installation are the masonry saw and the power tamper. The masonry saw, often called a masonry wet saw, is essentially a circular saw designed to cut concrete, brick, stone and tile. The masonry saw may be portable or table mounted. Rather than the sharp-toothed blade of a wood-cutting saw, the masonry saw's circular blade is coated with abrasive mineral grit, such as diamond. The power tamper shares its size and appearance with the jack hammer; however, rather than the chiseling tip, the power tamper reciprocates a flat metal plate. The power tamper's reciprocating plate allows the builder to compress and flatten the soil beneath a paver base.