Stackbond, basketweave, stretcherboard or diamond? These are all terms you will become familiar with if you're planning to install paving around your home. No matter which one of these patterns you choose, the basic process involved in preparing to pave is the same. How do you approach this job?

Planning Is Everything

Make a formal plan of the area you are going to pave, accurately drawn out and then marked up "on site". Remember to take into account stormwater run-off when determining the angle of slope.

Dig It Out

Excavate the area to allow for not only the thickness of the pavers, but also the base material. You will need at least a 30mm layer of bedding sand, and if your paving work will receive vehicular traffic, you also need an area of quarry rock as your solid base.

Before you're ready to start, you should ensure that the subgrade, or the natural soil upon which paving will be supported, is firm, free of any vegetation and level.

Rubble for Strength

Next, introduce the roadfill or rubble as a strong and stable layer of support. At least 100 mm is recommended if you're going to be driving your car on the surface. When you have laid the material you will need to compact it by running over it with a mechanical, vibrating plate machine, at least three times.

Before you are ready to move on, ensure that the surface is not only firm, but level and that you have allowed for any slope for rainwater disposal. You can use a simple string method, where a taut piece of string will tell you if the surface is level between two points.

Screeding the Sand

Washed concrete sand must be then laid accurately. You can use screeding rails and boards to achieve this. Work in sections, with your screeding rails approximately 2 metres apart. The board may be used to ensure that the area between the rails is perfectly flat. Then, you can remove these aids and pour the sand, smoothing each section with a trowel.

Pavers Next

Place your pavers onto your finished surface, being careful to ensure all of them are level as you work. Once again, use the string method to achieve this.

The joints between the pavers should be filled with dried sand. Sprinkle it onto the surface and sweep it into the joints, ensuring they are all thoroughly filled.

Compacting to Finish

Finally, using a mechanical vibrating plate machine, compact all the areas of paving several times to ensure the correct set. You can put a layer of special sweep sand onto the surface before using the machine to avoid any damage during compaction.

For more information, contact a business such as Wholesale Sleeper Co.