- Research and gather information on styles that will fit your design. Think of what you are looking to accomplish (i.e. patio, driveway, walkway), and the functionality of such a style within the design.
- Set a budget for yourself. After deciding what you are willing to spend on your project, take a look around at what product fits within both the budget and overall design. Remember, a landscape project often involves such expenses as Interlocking Pavers and base materials, but also requires numerous miscellaneous expenses such as equipment rentals, sealer, glue and other various materials. Keep this in mind when creating a budget.
- To help visualize your project, it often helps to create a sketch of the overall design.
- Measure, measure, measure. This is one of the most important steps in the design project. Be sure to take measurements of all parts of the project. This includes such things as length, width, height, as well as slope.
- Drop into Sid’s Ponds and Gardenscapes to get a quote.
- Order all necessary materials. Availability and delivery times vary in respect to the product. Hardscape materials usually require a minimum time of 24 hours for delivery, while bulk/aggregate materials usually require a minimum of 4 to 6 hours for delivery.
Store Hours: Mon - Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Phone: +1 (905) 824-5104
Email: Online@SidsPonds.com
Sid's Ponds & Gardenscapes Inc.
6000 Ninth Line, Mississauga, ON, L5N-0C1
Plan Your Project
| · Tape measure · Pencil · String Line · Spray Paint · Square · Level |
· Wheelbarrow · Shovels · Skid Steer (optional) · Hand Tamper or Compactor (Retable Item) · Steel Rake · Pump sprayer (optional) |
· Table or cut off saw (Retable Item) · Rubber mallet · 3’ piece of lumber · Knee Pads · Broom · Paint Rollers & Trays |
To calculate the square footage or area, multiply length by width. For example: 17 feet x 8 feet = 136 square feet. This is the total square footage the desired Hardscape material will need to cover.
To calculate the number of cubic yards needed, multiply the square footage by the depth/height (in inches) and then divide the resulting number by 300. For example: (136 square feet x 5 inches)/300 = 2.27 cubic yards. Settling and compaction will add an additional 10-15% to the number of cubic yards needed. For example: 2.27 cubic yards x 1.15 = 2.61 cubic yards. Round up to the nearest half yard.
| Application | Compacted Sub Base | Loose Base and Grading |
| Walkway, Patio, Walls | 4 to 6 inches | 1 to 2 inches |
| Driveways | 10 to 12 inches | 1 to 2 inches |
| Material | Crusher Run, Limestone Screening, ¾ Clear Gravel, HPB | Concrete Sand, Limestone Screening |
- Excavate the desired area to a depth that is specific for each type of application.
- Start filling the newly excavated area with the aggregate materials to create a compacted base. As you fill in the area, level and compact the material gradually (3” at a time) with a steel rake and compacter/hand tamper respectively.
- The base for Interlocking Pavers should slope away (at an appropriate grade) from the house to ensure proper drainage. However, the base of a Wall should be completely level.
- When the compacted base is appropriately level, a loose base can be applied and then leveled using a rake or piece of lumber
- Before starting, separate the paving stones by size. (This is an optional step)
- Create your starting points using a square and string lines. Make sure they are at a 90˚
- Start placing your pavers in an outward direction. Lay all pavers, leaving those needing to be cut for last.
- As you work, make sure the string lines are straight to ensure all pavers are lined up. A rubber mallet can be used to straighten the pavers as well as close the gap between pavers.
- Use a table or cut off saw to make any necessary cuts.
- Aluminum or plastic edging restraints, along with spikes, can be used to keep pavers together.
- To keep pavers together and to help prevent weeds, brush polymeric sand into the gaps between pavers. Make sure none is left on the paving stones. Using the mist setting on a garden hose, spray water back and forth along the area (in stages) until the water has completely sunk through the cracks. This will allow the sand to harden. Do not apply this sand if rain/precipitation is expected 24 hours before or after the installation period – the area must be completely dry. This is an optional step.
- Sealer can be applied to the pavers after a period of 30 to 60 days from the day of installation using either a paint roller or a pump sprayer.
- Create your starting points using a square and string lines. Make sure they are at a 90˚
- Install all bottom units one block at a time. Before placing the next block, make sure the preceding unit is level. You may need to use the rubber mallet to help level. Once again leave all cutting to the end.
- The second layer of bottom units (if necessary) can then be placed, being sure to stagger each unit for stability and strength (i.e. don’t place them directly on top of each other).
- Make sure all blocks are level.
- Cut any bottom units.
- Place coping/cap units on the bottom units.
- Make final cuts on coping/caps.
- Use adhesive to bind the coping/cap units to the bottom units. Make sure the surface is free of dust and moisture to ensure the adhesive works properly.