Laying and filling pavers is easy with the Easy Mix range of landscaping sand and gravel products.
Before You Start
- Calculate how many pavers you will need.
- Calculate the area to be paved (in square metres), by using this equation: length x width = m2 (e.g. 4m x 5m = 20m2).
- Calculate your road base requirements (in cubic meters), by using this equation: paving area (m2) x [layer depth (mm) / 1000] = m3.
- Calculate your bedding sand requirements (in cubic meters), by using this equation: paving area m2 x [20mm / 1000] = m3.
- Always allow an extra 10% for paver wastage in off-cuts.
What You Will Need
Tools:
- Garden gloves
- Wheelbarrow
- Spade
- Rubber mallet
- Sheet of 3cm thick board approx 60 x 60cm
- Vibrating compactor
- Tape measure
- Spirit level
- String line
- Brick saw or brick bolster
- Long straight edge
- Firm bristle broom
- Water hose with sprinkler attachment
Materials:
- Road base (or concrete)
- Easy Mix Paver Bedding & Screeding Sand
- Easy Mix Paver Bond
Preparing The Site
Dig and level the area where your pavers will be laid, ensuring loose or soft areas are well compacted with road base (or concrete) to create stability. The depth of the area should allow for 10-15cm of road base, 3cm of bedding sand and the depth of the pavers.
Note: Ensure you include appropriate falls for drainage.
Add Road Base
Cover the area with a layer of 10-15cm deep road base. Compact the area with a vibrating compactor or a tamping tool to ensure it has no soft spots and is evenly distributed.
Add Bedding Sand
Spread Easy Mix Paver Bedding & Screeding Sand over the top of the road base to a depth of approximately 3cm. Using a long straight edge, screed the sand using a sawing motion until it is smooth. If you have drainage considerations, you need to incorporate a ‘fall’.
Laying The Pavers
Decide on your laying pattern before you begin and then place a string line around the perimeter of the site. If necessary, add more string lines in a grid formation, to make it easier to keep the pavers evenly spaced.
Lay the pavers against the longest straight edge of the entire area. Lay whole pavers first, leaving any required cut pavers until last. Leave a 3-5mm gap between pavers to allow for Easy Mix Paver Bond.
Filling Pavers
- Pavers MUST be completely dry prior to adding Easy Mix Paver Bond. Do not add to pavers that have been subjected to recent dew or rain.
- Pour the contents of the Easy Mix Paver Bond bag over a small area of pavers (approximately 3.5m2).
- Using a stiff broom, thoroughly sweep the sand into the gaps between the pavers.
- Move a vibrating compactor over all of the pavers to ensure that the sand drops down and completely fills the gaps. Alternatively, place the large board over several pavers at a time and hammer to make sure the sand and pavers are evenly distributed. Ensure that all the gaps are evenly filled, and add extra sand if the joints are not completely filled.
- Sweep any sand that may be lying on top of the pavers into the joints so that the sand in the joints are at the same level as the surface of the pavers. Remove any sand that is in excess of your requirements.
- Finally, use a garden hose on a mist setting to wet the entire surface (and from top to bottom of the pavers). It is important to use sufficient water to moisten the Easy Mix Paver Bond. Avoid using high pressure hosing or flooding the paved area as it will wash the sand from the joints.
- Protect the area from car and pedestrian traffic until the Easy Mix Paver Bond is dry and firm.
IMPORTANT: Do not use in wet conditions
Use of Paver Bond in wet conditions, or on pavers that are moist, will result in joint failure causing pavers to subsequently move out of alignment. Paver Bond is not suitable for areas that are subjected to constant moisture. Consistent moisture will cause the additives used in Paver Bond to be washed out – negating the cohesiveness of the binder. Not suitable for areas with a medium to steep incline.
