How to Install Marble Pavers

Calculate how many marble pavers you will need by measuring your paving area, length and width; then multiply those figures to get the square footage and order your marble tiles. They come in several forms --- squares, rectangles or other shapes --- so choose one that fits your needs. Then stake out your area with wooden stakes and builder's twine --- allow an extra three inches on either side for walks and patios. Make patios square or rectangular with 90-degree corners. Walks can be straight or curved, depending on location and preference.

Prepare a base by removing about eight inches of dirt from the paving area. Check with utilities first to be sure there are no buried water, communications or gas lines. For a patio, make your dirt base level; for walks, level it or follow the contours of the ground. Either will need a very slight slope for drainage. Compact the dirt with a hand or mechanical tamper, then lay down a course of gravel, four to six inches deep. It helps to put down half the course first, then tamp it before adding the rest. Install edge restraints of metal, plastic, pressure-treated wood or marble blocks. Then put down one to two inches of sand and compact it.

Lay your marble pavers in any pattern you desire. You can make a brickwork style, a basketweave or just random pattern mixing various squares and rectangles; this will depend in part on what style of marble pavers you bought. If they are all the same size you can just lay them in straight rows or cut half-pavers with a wet saw and stagger the seams. Start at one corner and work until you have filled all the space. Then tamp lightly to set the pavers and sweep sand into the seams. You will have to sweep in more sand for a few days to fill the seams tightly.