Alexei Volkov
Transforming your yard from grass to plastic pavers is a great way to create a low-maintenance, durable, and attractive outdoor space. This guide will take you through the process, from planning your design to laying the pavers, so you can achieve a beautiful and functional area. Before beginning, it is important to gather your materials and tools, which may include pavers, landscape fabric, a shovel, a rake, a level, a rubber mallet, sand, and edging or restraints. With preparation and careful installation, your new plastic paver area will be an enjoyable addition to your home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Project Type | DIY |
| Time Taken | One weekend |
| Materials | Gravel, edging stones, concrete, paver edging, paver sand, broom, plate compactor, landscape rake, electrical conduit, garden hose, level, shovel, sod cutter, rubber mallet, paving stone joint sand, spikes, speed square, blocks, circular saw, concrete blade, tile saw, drilling hammer, mason's chisel, plastic sheeting, wood chips |
| Steps | 1. Measure the area. 2. Mark the layout using strings and batter boards. 3. Kill and remove the grass. 4. Level the ground using a rake. 5. Lay down landscape fabric. 6. Spread a layer of paver sand. 7. Lay the pavers. 8. Sweep sand into the gaps between the pavers. 9. Mist the surface with water. |
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What You'll Learn
Planning your layout
Mark the Area
Use stakes and string to outline the desired shape of your paver area. Consider not just the functionality but also the visual appeal. If you want to include curves in your design, use a garden hose to plan them out, then outline the curves with a shovel.
Measure the Area
Calculate the square footage of the marked area using a tape measure. This will help you determine how many pavers you need and how much base material and paver sand are required. For example, a 60-square-foot area will need about 60 12-inch x 12-inch pavers and 4 inches of gravel, which is 1/3 of a yard.
Prepare the Base
Dig up the soil within the marked area to a depth of about 1 1/2 times the thickness of your paver. Compact the dirt with a tamper, and remember that it doesn't need to be perfectly level at this stage. Add a layer of gravel, about 2 to 3 inches at a time, and wet it before running a plate compactor over it. Repeat this process until you have a base of about 6 inches. Ensure that the slope is uniform and follows the natural slope of your yard, if possible.
Level the Area
Place two lengths of 1-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes across the area to help guide the levelling process. Pour paver sand over the base and use a straight 2-by-4 board to screed or level the sand, creating a flat surface. Remove the pipes and fill the spaces with more sand.
Plan Your Pattern
There are various paver patterns to choose from, such as the simple jack-on-jack or running bond patterns. More intricate patterns like herringbone or pinwheel require more cutting. Consider using different paver shapes and sizes to create unique designs.
Once you're happy with your layout plan, you can start laying your plastic pavers and enjoying your new low-maintenance outdoor space.
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Gathering materials
Gathering the right materials is essential for successfully replacing your yard with plastic pavers. Here is a detailed list of the materials you will need:
Planning and Design
Before you start gathering materials, it is crucial to plan and design your paver project. Consider the overall design and pattern you want to achieve. Decide on the type, colour, and size of pavers you want to use. Keep in mind that simple patterns like jack-on-jack or running bond are easier to install, while more advanced patterns like herringbone or pinwheel require more cutting. You can use strings and batter boards made from furring strips to mark the layout. Plan for the proper slope, ensuring it is uniform. The recommended slope is about a 1-inch drop for every 4 feet, sloping away from your house.
Tools and Equipment
- Measuring tools: A tape measure is essential for measuring the square footage of the area where you will lay the pavers. It helps determine the amount of material needed.
- Shovel: Use a shovel to cut around the perimeter of the marked area and remove grass or sod.
- Rake: A landscape rake is useful for spreading the paver base material and levelling the ground after removing the grass.
- Level: A level tool, such as a line level or a 4-foot level with a 1-inch block of wood attached, ensures your paver base and individual pavers are level and aligned.
- Tamper or plate compactor: These tools are used to compact the paver base material and create a firm foundation. A plate compactor is especially useful when working with large areas.
- Garden hose: A hose is necessary for lightly wetting the paver base to make it more solid and for applying herbicides or pesticides to kill the grass before removal.
- Rubber mallet: Use a rubber mallet to gently tap down each paver, securing them in place.
- Broom: A push broom is ideal for spreading sand across the pavers and sweeping it into the joints to lock the pavers in place.
- Saw: You may need a circular saw or tile saw to cut pavers to fit your design. Alternatively, use a drilling hammer and mason's chisel to score and split the pavers without a saw.
- Safety gear: When working with tools and heavy machinery, wear work gloves and safety goggles for protection.
Materials
- Pavers: Choose plastic pavers that fit your desired design and colour. Calculate the number of pavers needed based on the square footage of the area.
- Paver base: Gravel or crushed stone serves as the base layer for your pavers. The recommended depth is about 4 to 6 inches.
- Paver sand: Sand is used to fill the gaps between pavers and create a level surface. Ensure you have enough sand to create a layer about 1 to 2 inches thick.
- Landscape fabric: Laying landscape fabric underneath the pavers prevents weeds from growing through and minimises future maintenance.
- Edging: Plastic edging or paver restraints are installed along the perimeter to contain the pavers.
- Spikes: Spikes are used to secure the edging in place, spaced about one foot apart.
- Concrete or mortar: These materials are an alternative to plastic edging, securing the pavers in place.
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Removing grass
To replace your yard with plastic pavers, you'll first need to remove the grass. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Mark the Area
Start by marking the area where you'll be laying the pavers. Use stakes and string to outline the desired shape, ensuring it's visually appealing and functional. This will give you a clear idea of the grass area you need to remove.
Cut and Remove the Grass
Once the area is marked, use a shovel to cut around the perimeter. Cut the grass in sections to make it easier to manage. Lift the sod and remove any roots or debris to ensure a clean base for your pavers. You can use a sod cutter to make this process more efficient and effective.
Level the Ground
After removing the grass, use a rake to level the ground. Fill in any low spots and compact the soil to create a stable foundation. This step is important to ensure your pavers will be evenly laid.
Lay Landscape Fabric
Before laying the pavers, it's crucial to lay down landscape fabric. This will help prevent weeds from growing through the pavers, reducing future maintenance. Make sure to cover the entire area with the fabric.
Spread Sand
Once the landscape fabric is in place, spread a layer of sand over it. The sand layer should be about 1 to 2 inches thick, creating a bed for your pavers. You can use paver sand, choosing a colour that matches your pavers if desired.
Now that the grass is removed and the ground is prepared, you're ready to start laying your plastic pavers! Remember to plan your design beforehand and enjoy your new low-maintenance outdoor space.
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Levelling the ground
Clear the Area
Start by removing any grass, weeds, or debris that might interfere with the levelling process. Use a shovel to dig out stubborn patches of grass or weeds.
Mark the Area
Outline the area with paint or string. You can use a small amount of brightly coloured spray paint or string to help you visualise your work area. If using string, run it along the outside of the work area and use small stakes to secure it to the ground.
Level the Ground
Use a rake to level out any major bumps or dips in the ground. You want to achieve a relatively flat surface.
Prepare the Base
The type of base material you choose will depend on factors like soil conditions, climate, and the weight of your pavers. You will need a layer of road base on top of the soil and a layer of sand on top of the road base. This will keep the pavers level over time. Typically, you need at least 3-4 inches of material underneath the pavers.
Compact the Base
Use a plate compactor to compress the soil or gravel base, making it solid enough to prevent future shifting of pavers and achieve an even surface. If you are laying pavers for a pedestrian area, you should lay 4 inches of gravel base. However, if vehicles will use the hardscape, your gravel base should be 6-10 inches deep.
Slope the Area
Slightly slope the area to enhance water drainage. The grade should be slanted away from your house or any other structures. You can use string and stakes to mark the slope. Slope the strings by 0.25 inches for every 1 foot of land.
Finalize the Base
After levelling and sloping the base, wet it lightly to make it more solid. Then, use a length of electrical conduit on top of the base to form "tracks". Pour sand across and between the conduits, and drag a board across to smooth and level the sand layer. Check it with a level and fill any uneven areas.
Remember to contact your local utility organisations to check for any pipes or wires below the area before beginning any digging or levelling work.
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Laying the pavers
Laying plastic pavers in your yard is a great way to create a beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor space. The process involves several steps and requires some physical labour, but can be completed over a single weekend.
First, you will need to gather your materials. For this project, you will require plastic pavers, landscape fabric, a shovel, a rake, a level, a rubber mallet, sand, edging stones or paver edging, and gravel.
Next, you need to prepare the ground. Mark the area where you will be laying the pavers using stakes and string to outline the desired shape. If you are keeping the grass, you can lay the pavers directly on top, but for better stability, it is recommended to remove the grass and a shallow layer of topsoil. Use a sod cutter to remove the grass and set it aside in case you need to replace grass in other areas. Kill the grass with a herbicide, then dig down to a depth of about 1.5 times the depth of the paver.
Now, you can start laying the gravel base. Spread a layer of gravel about 2 to 3 inches thick, wet it with a garden hose, and compact it with a tamper or a plate compactor. Repeat this process until you have a gravel base of about 4 to 6 inches. Place a length of electrical conduit on top of the base to help guide you when levelling the paver sand. Pour the sand across and between the conduits, then drag a 2- x 4-foot board across to smooth and level the sand.
With the base prepared, you can begin laying the pavers. Starting at a corner, place the pavers one by one, ensuring they are straight and snugly fit together. Do not drag or stomp the pavers into place. If you need to cut pavers to fit your design, trace the cutting line with a straight edge and marker, then use a saw or a drilling hammer and mason's chisel to cut the paver. Once all the pavers are in place, spread more sand over the top and sweep it into the joints between the pavers to lock them in place.
Finally, secure the pavers with edging. Place edging stones along the exposed edges and secure them with concrete or mortar. Alternatively, use paver edging, which is a hard plastic edging that is staked into the ground. Spread a light layer of paver sand over the entire area and use a push broom to sweep the sand into the gaps. Run a plate compactor over the area one last time to finish the job.
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