by Jim Bessey

Created on: August 05, 2008

You can use concrete pavers to build a beautiful patio, if you take the time to properly prepare for this project. These pre-cast pavers, a modern replacement for traditional bricks, offer uniform sizing for ease of installation, and excellent color choices for design variety. Follow these basic steps to patio paver success.

What about location?

Choose your new patio's location carefully. A level area near an exterior door simplifies your task. Avoid potentially damp lawn locations to avoid excessive settling and possible ice build-up in winter. Be careful not to exceed zoning restrictions like side lot setbacks.

How big?

Consider how you'll use this patio. Table and chairs? Shiny new stainless steel outdoor grill? Will you need space for a lounge chair, benches, a planter? You're better off going a little bit larger than you think you need, than ending up regretting your dimensions for years afterwards.

Choose your paver type and do the math. Most are priced by the piece, but offer conversion to the square-foot price. Remember to consider the cost of your sand base at the same time. Every square foot you add will increase both the cost and the amount of work you'll need to do.

What shape?

Rectangles and squares are easy. Some products are specifically designed to create circular patios. "L"-shapes are manageable. Free-form is the most difficult, but can also offer the best eye-appeal, depending upon your location.

How to prepare?

Move any plants that currently live in your proposed patio's "footprint." If you're going over an existing garden, take out everything: topsoil, perennials, and mulch. Shrubbery must be completely removed, roots and all. The same holds true for small trees.

If you're going around a more mature tree (a lovely effect!), be sure to provide a large area of mulch around the trunk. Never pave right up to a tree! Remove all existing sod and any loose topsoil underneath. Look around and see if you can use well-established sod somewhere else on your property.

How deep?

Your new patio should be level, uniformly sloped, or slightly crowned - depending on how much water you will need it to drain off. Level presents the fewest challenges. The biggest mistake you can make is to skimp on the depth of your prepared base. Expect to excavate to at least six inches below ground level. (Removing the sod takes care of about half of this.)

What base?

Professionals add a layer of gravel to promote drainage. You can, too. Order what you need by truckload if at all possible.

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