Building a concrete paver patio/sidewalk

Inlaid brick pavement can add beauty and value to any landscape. Its resistance to the rigours of our climate, its ability to support heavy loads and durability make it a first-choice material.

If you're contemplating such an investment, your first task will be to accurately measure the area you want to cover so as to determine the quantity of brick required. And don't forget to add a few bricks you can put away for future use. Draw a plan you can then take to your merchant's who will help you determine quantities for the pavement, borders, crushed stone and concrete sand.
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Installing the pavement
1. Delineate the perimeter
2. Make the foundation
3. Make the border
4. Proceed to the bed and lay the paving blocks
5. Finishing

Installing the pavement

If you're replacing asphalt with inlaid brick, you can keep the same base, provided it's in good shape, without cracks, bumps or depressions. All you'll need to do is to have the asphalt removed. But remember that 90% of your new pavement's reliability and durability will depend on the state of its foundation.

1. Delineate the perimeter

Use a cotton string and pickets to delineate the perimeter before digging. Dig up 12 more inches than the planned width and length of the floor.

2. Make the foundation

Remove all vegetation and soil to a depth of 15". Provide a slope of ¼" to the linear ft. for drainage. A clayish soil requires about 15" of excavating; a gravel base, about 11". A drainage slope of 2½" over 9 to 10 feet is normally adequate. Before digging, be sure you're not going to damage electric or phone wires or natural gas pipes. If in doubt, get in touch with the utilities concerned.

2.1 

Level the base with a rake if it's sandy or granular and compact it with the help of a vibrating plate or roller.

2.2 

Lay a geotextile sheet over the base in order to minimize contact between the base and the foundation to ensure more stability.

2.3 

Spread successive 4" coats of gravel and compact using a vibrating plate. Water lightly to make the job easier. The top surface must be perfectly uniform. You should determine the height of the foundation based on the desired height of the pavement, bearing in mind that your foundation will recess by about 3/8". For 15"' of excavating, 12" of gravel in thickness will do.

3. Make the border

In order to arrive at the exact measurements of the floor, lay down a row of 12" paving blocks around the inside perimeter of the dug area.

3.1 

Install the border around the blocks at the desired height, making sure it's sunk into the gravel.

3.2 

Remove the 12" paving blocks used to guide you with the installation of the border.

4. Proceed to the bed and lay the paving blocks

Spread an inch of stone dust and level it using two one-in. diameter rigid sticks or pipes and a straight board.

4.1 

Lay out the paving blocks in keeping with the motif you've chosen and walk gingerly on the blocks as your progress.

4.2 

Fill the joints by spreading concrete sand on the blocks and sweeping it into the cracks, making sure you sweep in every direction.

5. Finishing

Spread soil around the perimeter of the floor and replace the sod. Don't forget to water.
Inlaid pavement requires little maintenance and no protection to extend its life expectancy. You may, however, wish to apply a sealer that will protect it against dirt after its first winter.

Your new concrete paving block floor is now ready for traffic!
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