Construction of a Paver Sidewalk

Tools Needed

• Tape Measure

• Shovel

• Sod Stripper (optional)

• Plate compactor or Hand Tamp

• Garden Rake

• 2' level and Line Level

• String Line and Stakes

• Screed Guide (preferably 1")

• Rubber Mallet

• Wet Saw

Material Lists

• Compactable Fill (base material)
• Medium/ Coarse Sand (bedding agent)
• Fabric (optional)
• Edge Restraint
• Surface Material (pavers)
• Polymeric Sand (joint filler/ sealer)
• Sealer (optional)

Construction

• Measure and mark off sidewalk area with stakes, string line and a line level. The stakes should be set 12” beyond the proposed edges of the sidewalk. To get perpendicular lines (sq corners) use the 3-4-5 triangle method.
• Strip Sod-excavate with sod stripper or square point shovel & excavate an additional 6” – 7”.

•  Check & measure in several areas to ensure uniform width and a consistent excavation depth. Over dig 3”- 6” so that the excavation is wider on the edges where edge restraint will be installed.

• Place compactable fill in 2” layers, spread with a garden rake & compact with a plate compactor or hand tamp. Compact from the center and work out making at least 2 complete passes, overlapping the passes.
• After the compactable fill is in place, lay down the screed guides 2’ – 4’ apart and parallel to each other. Spread sand in this area (over the guides) and screed off with a piece of 2 X 4. (or any straight edge).
• Begin placing pavers at a fixed, permanent point (drive, house, porch, etc). Alternate left to right when laying rows. Every 4’ or so, string a line across the edge & make sure the pattern is straight. Lay all full pieces first, saving the cuts to the end.
• When cutting, measure the open space from the edge to the full paver at both the top and the bottom. Cut with a wet saw.
• After the pavers are in place, remove any excess sand from the edge of the pavers, so the edge restraint can be placed against the pavers on the base material. Push the edge restraint under the sand bed and the pavers. Then use a hammer to tap the edging up tight against the pavers. Place spikes a foot apart.
• Run the compactor over the pavers a minimum of 2 passes working from the outside in & overlapping passes. The first pass will level the pavers and compact the sand.
• Spread a thin layer of polymeric sand over the pavers & sweep back and forth to fill the joints. Alternate compacting and sweeping. Repeat until no joints open up after compacting. Sweep off any excess. Make sure all the sand is either swept into the joints or off the surface of the pavers. The first time it is rained on, the polymeric sand will glue down and stay in place.

Tips

Call OUPS, Ohio Utilities Protection Service, at 1-800-362-2764 before digging.

If lose material is dry & dusty wet down slightly for easier compaction.

Polymeric joint sand helps stop insect mining and helps prevent weed seeds and roots from penetrating.

Use a soap stone or crayon to make marks on darker colored pavers to better see them when cutting.