Learn how to lay pavers on a road base or concrete with our step-by-step guide.
The key to any DIY project is to get the preparation and foundation right, and this is particularly important when it comes to laying pavers.
That applies to the two most common ways of laying pavers – on a road base or on concrete.
Here’s a quick guide to both options.
Road base
Road base is made up of large and small particles, which get compacted and combined to form a hard structure on which to lay the pavers.
Start by excavating the area you want to pave: about 140mm is recommended for pedestrian areas.
Add the road base and screed on your prepared area to about 100mm below your final height. Compact with a compactor so you’ve got a hard, well-formed foundation.
Next, placed washed river sand in piles over the base and, using a rake or shovel, get a rough level then compact again. Check your levels with a straight edge and lay down the screeding rails. Use your screeding board to get a level sand bed (remember to allow a slight fall for drainage – about 25mm per metre).
Now it’s time to lay your pavers, working out from the corner. Make sure the first line is dead straight and then check every subsequent line with a string line.
Use a brick saw to cut any pavers that meet an edge, but for those that don’t, you’ll need to lock them in manually, using a sand and cement mix along the edge of the paver.
Finally, sweep in dry paver joint sand to interlock the rest of the pavers. Repeat the next day to ensure you’ve got a solid gridlock of paving.
Can you lay pavers without a road base?
For a strong foundation, we do suggest your paving will need a strong road base. If you are paving a driveway or on an unstable site, it is recommended that you consult a suitably qualified engineer. Generally, the road base is laid to a total depth of 100 to 150mm (10-15cm) around the entire area.
Concrete base
Laying on a concrete base requires a little more work but is still an ideal DIY job.
Once your formwork has been laid, mix sand and cement together in a wheelbarrow then use this mix to build a bed, allowing for a slight fall for drainage. Let the concrete layer cure. Then waterproof by painting on a waterproof membrane and allow to dry.
How do you stick pavers to concrete?
Using a notched trowel, apply tilers’ glue to the base and top with a paver. Repeat until complete.
Once the glue is cured, you’ll need to grout in between the pavers to lock them into place, then seal the entire area.
Watch these great videos from Brickworks:
How to Lay Pavers on a Sand Base
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