patio installation

[snomaker321]

anyone here have any experience with making patios? We're currently working on putting one in my backyard. Its going to be 17.33' x 17.33' (16" blocks). We're trying to figure out how to level it. i saw one way that framed it with 2x6s first but this is just too big. Any ideas?

We're also up in the air about how much stone/sand to use underneath.

If we "sprinkle" cement mix over the base before laying the pavers and let it rain, will it harden right? We have really sandy soil here and dont want it to sink. I just dont know how rain will affect the mixture(ratio wise).

Also, anyone know roughly how much sand costs? We'll need at least a yard but I figure I can get a half a yard at a time with my truck (about 1300lbs)

 

[straycat]

You are going at it right. You will ned to mist a good shower over it with your hose. If the rain hits it (it might be too hard of a rain) that will ruin what you want to do. Just use a hose.......

 

[Spitfire1975]

Personally (and I think this is one of those "everyone has a different way to do it" moments), I would do it this way if you don't want it moving on you. And this is at a minimum. You should have drains (if a wet backyard) and landscape fabric underneath the rock. But you don't HAVE to.

1. Excavate out enough that you can get at least a couple inches of 3/4 minus sub base and pack it in with plate compactor.
2. Then about an inch of 1/4 minus, screed it with a 2x4 and get it close to final grade.
3. Pack it in again with the plate compactor. Check your grade (level) again and add/subtract where needed.
4. Get your blocks down and retained securely (whether it be wood, plastic or concrete "curb"), cover the bricks with a layer of sand and run the compactor over the top of the bricks. This will "set" the bricks and do the final leveling.

Gravel/sand normally (West Coast) runs about $20-ish a yard at your local suppliers. Quarries will usually charge you by the ton and not the yard.

I wouldn't use cement mix at all (a huge mess with no real benefits) and I wouldn't use sand as your base. It moves to much and doesn't provide a solid platform.

IF you do it this way, you will need about 2 yards 3/4 minus, about 1 yard 1/4 minus and 2-3 cement-sized bags of sand. About $100 for gravel/sand assuming $25 a yard and $25 for 3 bags of sand. Add another ~$75 to rent a plate compactor and then the cost of your brick/retainers.

Have fun.

 

[dp88]

I always have used limestone sand after digging out a little bit off earth. I use that on retaining walls as well.

 

[adsm08]

dynamite.

 

[Boghog1]

Agree with spitfire (with slight differences in depth but that is irrelevant)

 

[robertc1024]

+1 with Spitfire. I would definately take his suggestion on the landscape fabric under whatever you're putting in. I get stuff here called "roadbase material" to use as the sub-base material. It is like a mixture of clay and gravel. Once it gets wet, it is easy to play around with, when it dries, it's like concrete.