Anyone set paver stones ?


 
Lynn Dollar

Lynn Dollar

TVWBB Emerald Member
I'm extending my patio a couple of feet. Total area is 2 X 8 . Not a big project but I'm putting down paver base and then leveling sand. The trick is gonna be getting it level with my patio.

Is it really necessary to tamp down the paver base ? I don't want to go to trouble of renting a tamping tool. This is not a large area.
 
I bought a 10 in. x 10 in. Steel Tamper from Lowes/HD, cost around $40. I also applied Paver Set Polymeric Sand to in between the joints.

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I know enough about setting pavers to know that I have no business setting pavers.

I would concur with the previous repliers that you really do want a good tamped base to start with, and getting it both levelled (okay, slopped a bit for drainage in an appropriate direction,) as well as even with the existing set, are very important. Without a properly tamped base, I would expect the pavers to move or sink over time.
 
EricV. said:
I bought a 10 in. x 10 in. Steel Tamper from Lowes/HD, cost around $40. I also applied Paver Set Polymeric Sand to in between the joints.

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I plan on that also, except HD and Lowes only sell it in 40# containers for $25. I won't need near that much.
 
EricV. said:
I bought a 10 in. x 10 in. Steel Tamper from Lowes/HD, cost around $40. I also applied Paver Set Polymeric Sand to in between the joints.

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Good advice. Do that. In addition, rather than sand, consider using decomposed granite or minus stone for your base. Use the poylmeric sand between your pavers to set and stabilize them once they are in place.
 
I just redid mine about a month ago. It's a 14" x 28' edge to my driveway.
I made a screed, a 4' length of 2" x 4" with a 13" piece of 1" x 4" screwed onto the side of the 2" x 4" at the thickness of the pavers.
Put your base down and screed the sand while pushing down on the 2x4.
No need to level as your following existing grade.
I have the same tamper as Eric but you could make one out of scrap plywood and a 2x4 for a small area.
 
If you mix in cement with your sand at about a 3 to 1 ratio, sand cement it will give you a much stronger sub grade for your pavers. Just dampen the mix so that when you squeeze a handful in a ball it will stay together.
 
When I did mine, I rented a power tamper. Used it on the gravel base, and the top of the pavers. Stayed flat for many years. The last couple of projects have been very small so I use a hand tamper, but I've gone with the paver base panels. They're basically foam panels that you use instead of gravel, and you top with only an inch of sand. They have worked better than expected with no issues.

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C Lewis said:
When I did mine, I rented a power tamper. Used it on the gravel base, and the top of the pavers. Stayed flat for many years. The last couple of projects have been very small so I use a hand tamper, but I've gone with the paver base panels. They're basically foam panels that you use instead of gravel, and you top with only an inch of sand. They have worked better than expected with no issues.

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I've seen those on commercial jobs in the past on walks and patios, I don't think they are recommended for driveways.
 
timothy said:
I have the same tamper as Eric but you could make one out of scrap plywood and a 2x4 for a small area.
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I expected this tamping tool to be pretty heavy, its not ?

I don't mind renting one, HD has them at $10 a day. But will they have one when I want to use it.
 
Polymeric Sand is the only way to go yes its kind of expensive but not really for the area you are doing. The base is the big thing and yes renting the machine after laying the base to tamp it down is really the only way to go same with the Polymeric Sand. If you really want to use sand on top be prepared for it to turn green if it gets to wet for to long. Nobody who does pavers would ever use sand on top to fill that gap. Most of my backyard is pavers since I have a pool even after 4 or 5 years you need to refresh some gaps with the Polymeric Sand which I have done stuff is really easy to work with if you view the videos.
 
Timothy no offense pavers have a external groove on each side so they should not be touching so there is a gap and obviously when doing curves it spread a bit further to make a turn no reputable contractor who is laying pavers would ever use anything but polymeric sand at least in ATL and I doubt anywhere. Its the standard sand will wash away the poly will not does it need to be refreshed over the years yes but I can do that easily there are only certain areas where you need to do that not like you are doing the whole thing.
 
Lynn Dollar said:
I'm putting sand on top of the base for leveling, then pavers , then polymeric sand.
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I am not an expert on this subject but why do you need to put sand over the base not heard of that before and pretty sure when they did the pool area they did not do that either. Put a base used the machine if something did not level out they added more of a base then tamped again. You have to remember that added area needs to be framed in so to speak whether that is morter on the sides to make those pavers stay put or whatever.
 
Brian B Atlanta said:
I am not an expert on this subject but why do you need to put sand over the base not heard of that before and pretty sure when they did the pool area they did not do that either. Put a base used the machine if something did not level out they added more of a base then tamped again. You have to remember that added area needs to be framed in so to speak whether that is morter on the sides to make those pavers stay put or whatever.
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The layer of sand provides a flat, smooth layer to place the pavers on. It is leveled out with a screed, then the pavers are placed on top. The base is essentially gravel, and even once tamped, is not smooth or level enough for the pavers to sit flat.
 
We had a paver patio set a few years ago, with a tear-off of a deck that was maybe 24" off the ground (low enough that getting under was not happening,) that included a paver circle some 14-16' in diameter along with some other square work (maybe another 60-80 sq. ft.) Thus far, nothing in the pavers has moved, and I do wish that I would have around to see these guys set the pavers.
 
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