Considering Installing My Own Pavers...

[newtothis]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( it was an enjoyable project. )</font>

Enjoyable when done, tough darn work while doing it! I used my backhoe and FEL going down about 6 inches. Then limestone and sand, definately pack the sand both before and after the bricks.

The hardest part for me was the steps from the house to patio. Actual engineering involved and then it failed inspection (new build). He said we'd have to knock out all of my pavers, they were glued together, because it's too wide. Needless to say when we passed the final and were flagged for the steps we've never done anything about it since and don't plan on it.

 

[Nasty135]

Mike, For the walkway I used my craftsman rototiller for precise excavating, first pass then shovel out ,then rototill again to the 8"-10" depth ..4 to 6" depth Bluestone dust raked smooth then compacted by hand with a 6x6 post with handles on the sides for better control, bricks in whatever pattern and sand or more bluestone dust. Backfill against outter edge .. My sidewalk is only about 40' or so

Larger area make use of tractor for sure /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JohnSinVA]

Mike -

Did you decided to tackle the walks and patios? If so how have they turned out thus far?

John

 

[MikeFromVA]

John,

Decided to do the deck first - hopefully I can swing the patio/walkways this fall (too darn hot for that work right now anyways). I will be posting deck pics soon in a new thread...

 

[riptides]

Best choice on your part.
I recall doing pavers about this time of year many moons ago.
I recall not being able to stand up after working for a few hours.

Don't get scope creep on your paver project, when you get to it. Our walkway turned in 3000+ pavers.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JohnSinVA]

Too hot? Nonsense! Perfect excuse for having more cold BEvERages when the day's done /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Look forward to the deck pics. I think my FIL will be recruiting me for his deck/patio project in the near future. Hopefully I'll have a new machine to help with some of the work by then.

 

[TroyT]

We just finnished up a paver project, it took some time but it turned out very well. I will try and post a few photos. We used 4" of 5/8- for the base followed by 1" of sand. The top of the 5/8- was 2 3/4 inches below where we wanted the top of the paver to end up.

 

[TroyT]

The S curve - that was fun...

 

[TroyT]

Last one...

 

[BOOMERANG]

Mike,
Here is a before and after photo of a sidewalk my wife and I did ourselves. It was a lot of work but you can definitely DIY.

It looks like you live in my neck of the woods. I'm near Hillsboro. I have photos of the complete process if you're interested.

 

[MikeFromVA]

Troy - Thanks for posting the pic - looks good.

Boomerang -
Your project looks great. Did you do the driveway too? Looks like it. How long did it take? How many square feet was the total project? BTW - I live in Lovettsville.

 

[BOOMERANG]

Mike,
Yes, I did the driveway too but not with Pavers. Going to have it paved soon with asphalt. I dont remember the exact square footage but all in all it cost about $5000 for the materials. I got everything over at Loudoun Milling in Hamilton. The longest and most tedious part of the job was cutting all the bricks to fit the edging. Literally wore my fingers down to the bone after several days on that brick saw!

 

[BOOMERANG]

Here is another view from the front door.

 

[em14]

You did a very nice job ... that is a beautiful addition to the landscape ... congrads! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Leo