You can check if your slope is leveled using a bubble level in a creative way. Drive stakes whose height will represent the limit for the gravel through the area. Last Updated: September 9, 2020 Article by eHow. For more advice from our co-author, like how to use landscape fabric to level the ground for pavers, scroll down! You typically need at least 3-4 inches of material underneath the pavers. Pound stakes into the ground at the corners of the rectangle. That’s it, you have successfully leveled the ground for pavers to be installed. In order to find out how much you will need to dig, you need to add that up to the depth of the pavers (normally 6 inches). … Use a small amount of brightly-colored spray paint or string to … Run the plate compactor over the area one last time. In a procedure that’s similar to that of the last step, drive stakes through the area whose height will represent the total height of sand you will be adding. Edging around the outside of the outside of the patio holds the pavers in place. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Use this article to learn how to level the ground for pavers, and let the lack of complaints about tripping hazards in your patio or walkway be your main reward. Mark the ground for the paving area that will be managed. Leveling Sand Paver Thickness* Brock PaverBase Dig out this many inches below your current level 1/2 Inch 1 3/4 Inch 7/8 Inch ... make sure it follows the slope of the concrete pad. Open Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tie a string onto two stakes and place the stakes in the … Whatever your reason to level ground, the process is the same. You can do that using your measuring tape to adjust the strings. Characteristic Ground Cover Plants for Pavers, Stepping Stones, and Flagstone The crevices between pavers vary in sizes and play a significant role in how low-maintenance they are. How to Level Out the Ground for Patio Pavers | Hunker. How to Lay Pavers on Dirt Compact the Fill Dirt After leveling the area where your patio is going to be, you’ll want to lay down another thin layer of fill dirt. Available at most home improvement and supply stores, pavers are small, specialty stones that can transform any yard or garden into a work of art. "Confirmed sand can be installed either above or below the weed barrier.". Pour a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of the … With all that in mind, the process of leveling the ground for pavers includes outlining the area, marking the finished level goal, digging from that height down, filling the area with gravel and sands, and lastly laying the pavers. That said, it’s in your best interest to level them properly. From flagstone pavers to smooth pavers, we compiled design ideas that are great for any outdoor living space. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. His work has been featured in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine and on Pool Kings TV Show. The existing surface was a mixture of concrete slabs, pavers and some dirt. Some people even level the ground before planting grass seed, flowers and vegetable gardens. 8 April 2020. Wooden landscape timbers work great for framing that to keep the sand contained. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Laying a paver patio over a tree stump wouldn’t be a good idea, since as the wood rotted, the ground would tend to sink. How To Begin Installing Paver Patio On Uneven Surface. Then, in order to allow for drainage, create a slope of 1 inch to every 4 feet of length. Dig the ground according to the size of the paver. If you live near Sarasota and Manatee, call us right now for a free consultation. Fill up the hole with concrete to provide it solid base support. ... For all Paver Patios and … Draw an outline on the dig hole to mark the paver layout. Use a push broom to sweep the sand into the gaps between the pavers and run the plate compactor across the patio surface. Landscape & Design Consultant. Next, you need to install paver restrains and the pavers themselves. Level paving is a challenge. In most cases up to 8 inches deep digs are enough. Finally, spread the crushed gravel. Can You Grout Pavers And How Long Does It Last Outdoors. As you’ve noticed, although it’s not impossible to do it yourself, many things can go wrong if not done cautiously and ultimately cause your paver patio to be uneven. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Scott Johnson is the Owner and Lead Design Consultant for Concrete Creations, Inc., an award-winning landscape and design company based in the San Diego, California metro area. We are going to use the strings to create your leveling reference. For stones with only about two inches of space between them, the plants may cover the stones and require more trimming, whereas areas with more space between stones are more maintainable. Available at most home improvement and supply stores, pavers are small, specialty stones that can transform any yard or garden into a work of art. Now, before you start digging, you should also consider that some edging will be necessary to hold everything in place. Whether you decide to build a brick, flagstone, concrete or paver patio, you need a somewhat level surface if you plan to use the patio as an outdoor sitting area. Measure the area in which you want to add your patio. The slope should be about 1/4” per one foot of distance. Fix Patio Height. Measure the length and width and multiply by two to get the square footage. ... I’ve had a hard time getting the ground level where I am and I was running out of ideas to … Before we get into the step-by-step, it’s important for you to understand what is being done and why. To prevent your pavers from moving around, install edge restraints around the perimeter. Excavate the Patio Paver Area. That means, in our project, those stakes will have to be spaced 6 inches from the strings. If you’ve ever tripped on an uneven paving surface you know exactly how important leveling the ground for pavers actually is. Finally, add a layer of bedding sand, and place your pavers on top. If your hot tub is already installed on pavers, but you need to level your hot tub, the best thing to do is use shims. Now spread the sand through the whole area and level it with the lumber making sure it is at the same height as the stakes. Like all outdoor decor, pavers require some preparation to install properly, especially when it comes to making sure your ground is level. Add another thin layer of sand and use the push broom to spread it across the patio. You need to make sure the space is level. That will prevent the paving patio from looking uneven in time. You can also rent a rotating laser level and transit rod to measure the grade with. Wind strings around them at ground level and tie them tightly. Remove grass or other vegetation and skim off 2 to 4 inches of soil. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/num/area.html, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/marion/sites/default/files/how_to_install_pavers.pdf, http://grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_install_concrete_pavers/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/patio/how-to-cover-a-concrete-patio-with-pavers/view-all/, http://www.recycledgranite.com/upfiles/file/paver-installation.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The ground should be tightly compacted using a hand tamper or plate compactor. I did this in 4 trailer loads, spreading each … May 2, 2019 - How to Level the Ground for Pavers. Spray the stakes with brightly-colored spray paint so you don't accidentally trip over them. This article was co-authored by Scott Johnson. ... Compacting the base level is key to creating a paver patio that will remain level and hold up through the years. How to install pavers paving stones installation see pictures and s outdoor patio decor level the ground for 15 steps with leveling your paver pavertime lever recessed fire pit design easily a that doesn t look like diy two brothers brick build looking advice on building deck or stone doityourself com community forums lay you ... How To Level The Ground For Pavers 15 Steps With Pictures. Pound stakes on the edges of the area you outlined. So you should dig an area that’s larger than what you already outlined by 13 inches as well. He has over 30 years of experience in the pool and landscape construction industry and specializes in large estate outdoor environment construction projects. June 2020. How to Lay Pavers: Almost a month ago I started laying the pavers in my back yard. consider thickness of paving stone. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Add in a 2-inch-layer of crushed gravel and spread it evenly over the landscape fabric. Good paving is like good cake frosting: Nobody notices all the work it took to create that beautiful smooth surface. Then pound over the exposed soil using a tool like a hand tamper until the ground is level and tightly compacted. Mark the boundary of the patio or walkway. It is helpful to pull a string line so you can check your slope. First, calculate what’s the total depth of your paving project after deciding on how much gravel and sand to add. We then scraped the surface down to make the paver level with the sidewalk, adding and subtracting soil until it was level and adjusted as we set down more pavers where it was obviously off and the pavers were lower or higher on edges or middle. Remember to level out the bottom soil in the trench itself. If you want your pavers to be properly installed, you will add gravel and sand beneath it, and if you want them to be flush with the existent surface it will include some digging in order to accommodate everything. Using the carpenter’s level ensure the strings are leveled all the way. Using a shovel or rototiller, dig up the entire area so it's deep enough and add a base layer of gravel until you're about 3 inches from the slope line. In this example, we will need a total depth of 13 inches to accommodate everything. Leveling The … If you removed them while digging, reattach your strings before taking measurements. No one wants to trip on uneven paving stones, but they will be uneven if the ground underneath them is not level. Pavers work best to support a hot tub when you first create a bed of sand and then compact it down and level it out. The cement was then broken up and removed with the help of a small rental tractor. You’re going to use sand to level out the ground further. Place two level pieces of metal pipe flush with the top of the sand base. String the twine between the stakes at the perimeter, so it follows the shape of the area. When you lay out the patio, slope it away from the house at a rate of 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot to keep water from working its way into the house. Learn how to lay road base and prepare and area for paving. You need a layer of road base on top of the soil and a layer of sand on top of the road base. You can use rope, spray paint, a garden hose, whatever you need. A way to ensure that is by marking the level gauge with a tape. 7. To ensure the same height of the pavers once you lay them down, use the screeding board to make sure they’re the same height. Lastly, although we call it leveling, we won’t really be aiming at a leveled patio, a slight slope is necessary for water drainage and so that the water takes all the dirty where you want them to go. Others level ground to prepare for new above-ground swimming pools, swing sets, driveways, sheds or patios. % of people told us that this article helped them. Divide the area of the proposed patio by this number to … Level it off with a rake to ensure the patio slope is consistent. From there we flattened down any obvious high spots and packed in dirt in the low areas. Measure the distance between the soil and the string in many places to ensure everything is even. Your bubble should be slightly off-center, but it should be always in the same place. He earned a BS degree in Construction Management With the help of the screeding board, level out the ground. Outline the area with paint or string. Make sure you have somewhere to put all the dug up soil before you start digging. Simply removing the grass and excavating the area isn’t enough to prepare the space for pavers. Step 2. Nevertheless, this type of foundation work takes a lot of working hours and when done right, is barely noticed. Unless the tree was a rot resistant wood that will be be there a long time, you’d be better off digging up the stump, filling in the hole, and compacting the dirt before laying your patio. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Level-the-Ground-for-Pavers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Level-the-Ground-for-Pavers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Level-the-Ground-for-Pavers-Step-1.jpg\/aid9517730-v4-728px-Level-the-Ground-for-Pavers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"