PATIOS & PATHS / The Family Handyman - June 1992

SPREADING SAND Sand provides the final base for your pavers. If this surface is uneven, the pavers on top will be, too.Ideally, the sand should be 1 in. thick, but if it's a tad thicker or thinner in spots, that's okay. What you want is a firm, flat surface for laying pavers. Sand also locks the pavers in place. When you vibrate the pavers, they'll bed themselves slightly into the sand.If your patio is under 10 ft. wide, use a screed board with a 2-in. notch on the ends to ride along the edging to level the sand (similar to that in the first photo below).

On larger expanses, level long lengths of iron pipe it the sand 2 in. below your guide strings, then run your screed along the top of the pipes. (When you're done with the pipe, remove it, then fill in the groove it leaves with sand). In many cases you'll use a combination-a notched screed board riding along the edging on one end, with the other end of the screed running along iron pipe (Photo 8). Whichever screeding method you use, roughly dump and level the sand over the compacted subbase, then fill in low spaces and rake away excess sand as you drag your 2x4. Shuffle the screed lightly from side to side as your work. You're not compacting the sand, just creating a firm, solid bed.

Screed only as much sand as you can cover with pavers in one day. Screeded sand left any longer is guaranteed to be ruffled by wind, rain, kids or a stray cat thinking he's found the world's biggest litter box. PAVE AWAY You should now be standing before an expanse of sand that's flat as a pancake (but slightly sloped). Take down the guide strings you used to determine height and slope and put up new stakes and string to mark the lines for the pattern of your pavers (Photo 10). Start along your house or other long straight edge and lay down the border pavers. (A border isn't essential, but adds a crisp, finished look, especially along curves.)

PATHWAYS A pathway can be part of a larger project or a project in itself. A walkway made from pavers is an attractive way to link your driveway to your front door, existing deck to new patio, or back door to garden area. Here are a few tips:Keep the pattern simple; a border running parallel to the path with a simple staggered pattern within is often the most attractive.Put a slight tilt in the path for drainage. One-half inch across a 3-ft. wide path is adequate.Take extra care to keep the edgings an equal distance apart; it will make screeding, cutting and paver laying easier.

	SMOOTH AND LEVEL the sand using a notched screed board riding along the edging for a guide. Include a slight tilt for drainage.
	INSTALL THE BORDER, marking and cutting every other paver at an angle at curved areas.
	LAY THE PAVERS using a string for a guideline. Cut and install pieces that butt up to the border later.