How to Install Endicott Brick Pavers

Preparing the Ground

• 1

  Survey the area where you plan to install the pavers to make sure it has proper drainage. Also look to see if any underground electric or sewer lines run through your construction zone.

• 2

  Stake out the dimensions for your patio. Use a measuring tape to measure the patio's length and width; use wooden stakes to map out the patio's corners. You can attach string to the wooden stakes to clearly mark an outline of the patio.

• 3

  Use a shovel to remove just the top layer of grass, exposing the soil below. Your goal is to create a perfectly flat surface. If you have to remove additional soil to create that flat surface, the Endicott installation guide recommends using a plate compactor to compress and flatten out the ground.

Laying Base Materials

• 4

  Select your base material. Loose gravel or stones are a good option for Steps 2 and 3, because they provide support while also allowing for adequate drainage. For Steps 4 and 5, use sand.

• 5

  Lay down a layer of the gravel on top of your flat soil bed. Endicott recommends adding this base material in layers of no more than four inches at a time. Use the plate compactor to flatten out the base material. Do your best at this; because of the rocky nature of the gravel or stones, it will be impossible to create a perfectly smooth surface.

• 6

  Moisten the base material as you lay it down. This will ensure the base material settles correctly; otherwise, your base material may settle differently the first time it is exposed to moisture --- rain or snow. Use a garden hose with an attached nozzle to gently apply a light layer of water to the entire layer of base material.

• 7

  Add a layer of sand on top of the gravel or stone. At first, much of the sand will sink into and fill the holes and gaps created by the gravel or stone. Add enough sand to completely cover the gravel or stone. Use a screed --- either a long wooden plank or a metal pole --- to flatten out the sand layer. Remember to moisten this material as well in order to help it adequately settle.

• 8

  Allow for drainage of water off your patio. Use a quarter-inch downward slope away from any existing structures for every linear foot. That means if your patio is 12 feet wide, its highest end should be 3 inches higher than its lowest end. To check for this, insert a yardstick or measuring tape into sand at the high and low ends of the patio. The sand at the high end should be three inches higher than the sand at the low end. If there isn't enough sand at the high end, add more; use your level to check that the slope drops at the same rate along the length of your patio.

Creating the Border

• 9

  Choose a material to form your patio's border. One option is wood; other options include bricks or metal.

• 10

  Place the wood 2-by-4s along the border of your project. You should be placing the planks into the ground so the 2-inch part of the wood is facing up. You may have to cut the pieces of wood to fit the dimensions of your patio. Use a saw to make the cuts. Do not anchor the wood pieces into place until you've placed all the wood in place and are satisfied with its appearance.

• 11

  Anchor the wood by using an electric drill to drill a hold through the wood and into the ground. Place 8-inch stakes through the holes and into the ground.

Laying Pavers

• 12

  Begin laying the pavers at one of the patio's corners. Start at a corner that is adjacent to an existing patio, driveway or other permanent structure.

• 13

  Lay the pavers --- one at a time --- in the pattern of your choosing. You can lay the pavers lengthwise, side by side or in a more complicated design. The pavers should gently sink into the sand a nominal amount --- less than an inch --- without you having to press down. Leave a gap of no more than 1/8 of an inch between pavers.

• 14

  Continue laying the pavers until you've filled in the entire area created by your wooden border. At some edges, you might need to use a brick splitter or chisel to cut the pavers to fit along the borders. Stop frequently to check the alignment and level of your project. Remember, you want the finished patio to have a total downward slope of three inches from its highest end to its lowest. Use a level to make sure the slope is even.

• 15

  Add sand to your patio's surface. Use a broom to gently sweep the sand into the crevices between the pavers.

• 16

  Tamp down the pavers one final time using your plate compactor. Make sure there is a thin layer of the sand applied in Step 4 on top of the pavers; this will prevent the compactor from coming into direct contact with the pavers, which could damage the pavers.