Tips on Installing Paving Stones by Yourself

November 20, 2009 by  
Filed under Paving

Are you looking to give your house a facelift by paving your walkway, garden path, driveway or patio? If you are, then the fact that you’re reading this article proves that you’re on the right track. Brick or concrete paving stones can make your house look classy and durable. There are many paving stones design to choose from, and you can pick whatever you want. This is something you can do yourself to save on the cost of having a professional do it for you. Here are some paving stone installation tips for you.

  • Have a plan. As with everything, you would need a good plan to ensure that your paving project is a big success. What areas do you want to be paved? Is it the path, the driveway, the patio, or all three? Make a scaled drawing of the area using graph paper and sketch the design you want. Make sure that the area to be paved slopes away from the house to ensure proper drainage. The recommended slope is at least one eighth of an inch per linear foot.
  • Be careful in ordering materials. The first step is determining the style you’re going for. You have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to paving stones, whether you choose to go with concrete or brick pavers. Paving stones come in a variety of sizes, colours and shapes, and you can usually find something that would fit your concept. After determining the style of the paving stone, you need to determine the number of pavers that you would order.

Generally speaking, if the area to be paved is not irregularly shaped, you can easily calculate the number of paving stones you would need. Order online or from a local building store. If you’re planning to pave more than one area of your house, it may be cheaper to order all the paving stones at one go so that you can try to negotiate for a discount. Remember your economies of scale – the more you order, the cheaper each item would usually be. Check with your supplier if they offer discounts for bulk orders.

Related articles:

  1. Thinking of Paving? Find the Pattern For You!
  2. Easy Steps in Setting Paving Slabs in Your Patio

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