How to Build a Patio: a DIY Stone Paver Patio Tutorial

Learn how to build your own patio using stone pavers! Here's a full step-by-step photo tutorial, as well as a fun time-lapse video of the whole process (available on my blog).

• Stone pavers
• Gravel paver base
• Paver sand
• Landscaping fabric
• Landscape edging
• Chalk
• 10 foot long, 4 inch diameter PVC pipe
• 10 foot long 2×4
• String
• Dowel rod

TOOLS

• Wet cutting tile and stone saw
• Tamper
• Utility knife
• Rubber mallet
• Shovel
• Bow garden rake (or any heavy duty rake)
• Ruler
• Level
• Wide taping knife
• Push broom
• Wheelbarrow
• Work gloves
• Protective eyewear

Start by digging out the area where you’d like to place your stone paver patio. You’ll want to add 4 inches of gravel and 1 inch of sand, plus the depth of the pavers. Preparing the area is the most time consuming part of the process, so don’t get discouraged. Once you’ve dug down to the appropriate depth for the whole area, make sure it is level by laying a long 4 inch diameter PVC pipe across the area with a level on it. Flatten and compress the area using a tamper.

Next, add a layer of landscaping fabric on top of the dirt. This is important for two reasons: it will give your gravel a good solid base to sit on, and it will also prevent weeds from growing up into your patio. Roll it out and overlap each piece by a couple of inches.

Use a utility knife to trim the edges to the correct shape.

Begin dumping gravel on top of the landscape fabric. If you have a large area, you may want to have a truckload of gravel delivered. Make sure they dump it out right next to your patio, because that stuff is heavy! Continue adding gravel until you’ve reached your 4 inch depth. Smooth it out with a rake.

Check to see if the gravel is level by laying your level and PVC pipe across it in multiple directions. Shift it around with the rake if necessary. Tamp it down again.

Next, add a one inch layer of sand. Be sure to use sand that is specifically for stone paver patios. Use the shovel and rake to spread it evenly over the gravel.

Smooth out the sand using a long 2×4 on its side. Check to see if it’s level.

Compress the sand using your tamper.

Now it’s finally time to lay the pavers in your stone paver patio! I found that smoothing out the area before you put the paver down is the key to getting it level the first time. A wide taping knife worked best for me.

Use a rubber mallet to make sure the paver fits snugly against its neighbors.

Once you’ve laid out all of the pavers in the middle of the patio, it’s time to cut the pavers for the edges. Measure the distance from the top of one paver to the edge of the patio and the distance from the bottom of that same paver to the edge of the patio and write down those measurements.

Then use those measurements to mark your paver using a piece of chalk.

We borrowed a large wet saw from a friend. Make sure the one you use is made especially for stone or thick tile. Cut along that chalk line that you marked before and then put your paver in place. Repeat this process for the rest of the outside pavers.

We wanted the edge of our patio to be a diagonal line, so we marked it by tying a string from one dowel rod to another and then took measurements to that point.

You’ll want to add landscape edging anywhere that the pavers butt up against grass. Some people turn the edging around the other way so that the scalloped edges sit underneath the grass, not the stone… but we decided to do it this way because it felt more stable with the stone weighing it down. Use a rubber mallet to hammer the pegs into the ground.

Last, fill the cracks between the pavers with sand. Pour a thin layer of it on the pavers and then use a push broom to sweep it around, allowing it to fall between the cracks of the pavers. And your patio is finished!

To check out a fun time-lapse video of the whole process as well as some additional information and photos, please visit my blog: https://design-fixation.com/2018/10/sponsored-stone-paver-patio-diy-tutorial.html

And here are some shocking before and after photos of our patio space: https://design-fixation.com/2018/09/budget-patio-makeover-sponsored-lowes.html