Paver Installation Tools

Shovel

• A shovel is a crucial tool in the process of installing pavers. After staking out the area to be paved, you use the shovel to excavate the area, not exceeding the depth of the pavers and base materials combined. To aid drainage, slope the excavated area downward from the house, dropping about one inch every four feet.

Plate Compactor and Rake

• A plate compactor and garden rake are used in the next step. After the soil is excavated, use the compactor to make a smooth, flat surface for the pavers and base material. Then add the base in three small layers, using the compactor after each layer is added. Use a hard-tooth garden rake to smooth out any rough spots in the base material before compacting each layer. If you don't have a compactor, you may find one at a local equipment rental firm. You will also use the compactor to set the pavers into the base material.

Cutting Tools

• Masonry saws or tile splitters are helpful when cutting pavers to fit around corners and edges. You likely will need to cut at least a few. Use a crayon or chalk to mark your cuts, and wear a mask, goggles and gloves when cutting.

Sand Spreader and Broom

• Laying pavers also requires a broom with stiff bristles, and a spreader to even out the thin layer of sand that goes between the base material and the pavers. A long, 2-by-6-inch board works fine as a spreader. Move it evenly over the sand to create a flat surface, and use a trowel to fill in any marks left by the sand spreader. Use a wide broom to brush sand into the joints between the pavers after they are laid.