Concrete Paver Installation

Define the area for the paver surface. Place garden stakes in the corners for a patio or every 4 feet if you're laying a walkway, adding 2 inches to each side for the edge restraints. Wrap a string around the stakes so you can see how the shape will look.

Use the string outline as a guide and excavate sod and soil from the site. Remove 8 inches of soil with a shovel, and level the floor by digging out the high areas. Grade the soil if the walkway or patio is by the house, digging an extra inch deeper for every 4 feet from the building.

Set a compactor machine at the center and go over the entire area three times. Compacting the ground stabilizes it, preventing it from shifting beneath the foundation. Compactors can be difficult to handle, so starting in the middle gives you time to get used to it before running it by the interior walls or near your house.

Lay down two 3-inch layers of ¾-inch highway gravel. Make three passes with the compactor between each level. The irregular shapes of highway gravel allow it to fit together when compacted, while still providing an outlet for underground moisture to pass through.

Set aluminum, metal or plastic edge restraints along the interior walls. Refer to the installation instructions to secure them properly.

Add 2 inches of coarse bedding sand to even out the surface of the foundation. Lay a 2-by-4-inch board on the sand and drag it over the top to even it out.

Set the concrete pavers in your pattern from one corner of the walkway or patio and work across. Place the pavers flush against each other and the edge restraints. Remove or increase the amount of bedding sand as needed to level the pavers with each other.

Pour fine-grained sand over the concrete pavers and press it into the crevices between each paver to pad them. Continue to add and pack the sand down until the joints are full.

Dip a roller brush in sealant, or use a spray pump brush, and apply one coat over the pavers. The sealant preserves the sand's joints and protects your surface from frost and water damage. Plan to reapply the sealant every two years.