Porous Paving Techniques

Paving Bed

• Because porous pavers absorb water at a faster rate, the base onto which they are installed must be gravel and sand to allow water to infiltrate through the pavers and base. Install 4 inches of crusher-run gravel into an 8-inch-deep excavated area, then tamp with a hand tamper to prevent settling of the pavers after installation. Spread an additional 2 to 3 inches of sand on top of the gravel, then tamp the sand in the same way as the gravel. Install the paving bed with a slight slope to allow excess water to drain.

Paving Borders

• Because porous pavers are not installed using mortar and cement to bind the pavers, you will need to install a paver border. These borders are manufactured in plastic or metal and can be purchased at any hardware store that sells landscaping materials. Installing these paver borders requires that you secure them with large stakes that resemble nails. These stakes are usually aluminum and 5 to 6 inches long. When installing borders to hold your porous pavers, make sure that the top of the borders is just below grass level so that the border will not be visible.

Setting Pavers

• When setting porous pavers, use a rubber mallet to tap the pavers into the sand bed. When setting the pavers, begin from the center of the paving bed and work out to the edges. This will ensure that the paving edges are the same on all sides of the paving. Use a 4-foot hand level to check the pavers after you have set a 4-foot area of pavers. Also stretch a nylon string across the paving surface every 4 feet. Attach the string to wooden stakes on the outer edges of the paver borders. Set theses stakes to the desired height of the pavers and follow the line when installing the pavers.

Shaping Porous Pavers

• Porous pavers may need to be chipped or cut to fit in around the outside edges of the paving project. Use a brick hammer or brick chisel to chip away small corners or edges. For larger cuts, use a 4-inch right-angle grinder fitted with a diamond-tipped masonry blade. You will not need to cut completely through the porous paver. Just score the paver ½ to 1 inch deep, and break the paver with a brick hammer.