Install a Paver Patio

A patio made from brick or concrete pavers is an attractive addition to your backyard that is perfect for grilling and relaxing. While laying a paver patio is a fairly simple do-it-yourself project, it's important to take the time to prepare the foundation to prevent uneven settling.

Patio pavers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are usually fit together dry with sand used to lock everything in place. The ones we're using are 12 inches square by 2 inches thick.

The first step is to prepare the ground by removing any grass, weeds, or roots. You also might consider applying a weed killer to the area to prevent any future germination.

Spread a layer of clay over the area to provide a firm base for the patio. The clay is graded so it slopes slightly downhill away from the house (approximately 1/4 inch per foot) to allow for proper drainage.

Once the clay has been spread out, place pressure-treated pine 2x4 form boards perpendicular to the house on either end of the patio and hold them in place with stakes driven into the ground. Be sure they're carefully aligned parallel and spaced so that an even number of pavers will fit between them.

Stretch strings at intervals across the top of the form boards to act as guides for leveling the clay, sand, and pavers.

Rip a short section of 2x4 to 3 inches wide to act as a height gauge between the clay and string.

Level the clay so that the 3-inch gauge fits snugly beneath the string. This allows for 1 inch of sand on top of the clay.

Use a hand tamp to pack the clay down so it will provide a firm foundation.

Once the clay base is ready, cover it with an inch of sand to provide for good drainage beneath the pavers and to make it easier to set them in place.

Use a scrap of wood ripped to 2 inches to spread the sand and gauge the distance to the string.

Begin laying the pavers against the house, making sure each one is even and the top surface is flush with the string.

Use a rubber mallet to tap the pavers gently in place without breaking them.

When the last row of pavers has been laid, a pressure treated 2x4 is installed across the end to hold the pavers in place and to act as a border for the patio.

The final touch is to sweep sand into the cracks between the pavers to lock them in place.