Below is a Simple Six Step Process on Paving.
Step One – Planning
The durability and longevity of your paved surface is dependant on proper ground preparation. The first step is to carefully plan your paving area and then stake it out.
If you want to avoid lots of cutting, consider allowing the pavers to dictate the width of the area to be paved.
Step Two – Careful ground preparation.
Ensure the sub-base is debris-free by removing all rubble vegetation from the area to be paved.
The sub-base should be roughly levelled and tamped down firmly by hand or mechanical compactor. (See Fig. 1)
Hand compaction is suitable for most domestic applications, but for large areas such as driveways, we recommend a mechanical compactor.
Step Three – Levelling and screeding.
After compaction of the sub-base, cover the area with approximately 30mm of clean yellow sand and lightly compact it.
Now it’s time to prepare the final level. Place the screeding board along the base of the wall or some other vertical structure to obtain a level for the bottom of the paving bricks. (Fig. 2)
Then lay the screeding board at right-angles to determine the level for the screeding irons.
To ensure proper drainage, allow a slight fall away from the wall – about 25mm over 3 metres.
Repeat this process one screed-board-length further along the wall. Place the screeding irons in the indentations you have made and slide the screed board back and forth over the area until it is level (Fig. 3)
When the whole area is level carefully check for any high or low spots in the sand. If any are found they should be filled or smoothed before commencing laying.
Step Four – Laying the pavers.
Lay the pavers in the designed pattern you have chosen. Place the pavers onto the sand and tap them lightly into place using a rubber maller. (Fig. 4)
Use a string line at regular intervals to check your paving lines are straight.
Step Five – Joint filling.
Spread clean, dry white, washed sand over the paved area and brush into all joints until filled. (Fig. 5)
Compacting of the paving should then be completed to lock the pavers in before brushing off the excess sand. (Fig. 6)
Step Six – Installing edge restraints.
Once Step Five is completed, the paving will be settled and locked up. The final stage required is to secure all edges that do not butt up to a solid wall or kerb, to prevent pavers from spreading under normal loads. Remove the outside or ‘header’ course of pavers and scrape the sand away from underneath to the required depth and width. Replace this sand with a bed of mortar and replace the ‘header’ pavers and gently tap down to the required level. This will keep the pavers in position and stop them from spreading.
Once completed we recommend you keep off the edges for at least 24 hours until the mortar has set.
Acknowledgements: Brikmakers