Cost to Install a Paver Patio
A paver patio can add an outdoor space or replace a worn surface. Installation involves excavating the area, compacting a crushed-rock base, laying pavers over bedding sand, and securing them with edge restraints and joint sand. This is a hard job: establishing a slight slope for drainage and operating a mechanical plate compactor require care.
Common reasons homeowners do this job
- Adding a patio to an outdoor area
- Replacing a worn or damaged patio surface
- Updating the patio's style or pattern
- Changing the outdoor space to suit its intended use
DIY or call a pro?
Consider hiring a professional if you are unsure how to establish the excavation depth, drainage slope or compacted base. Professional help is also sensible if you are uncomfortable operating a heavy plate compactor or unsure about underground utility lines before excavation. Wear protective gloves and safety glasses, and use caution around heavy machinery.
Frequently asked questions
- Is laying a paver patio a realistic DIY project?
- It can be a DIY project, but it is rated hard. Before taking it on, assess whether you are comfortable with excavation, leveling bedding sand and using a mechanical plate compactor. If any of those tasks or the presence of underground utility lines leaves you unsure, hire a professional rather than proceeding before you have a clear plan.
- What makes a paver patio installation more expensive?
- The price scales with the patio's area, labor time and materials, including the pavers, crushed-rock base, bedding sand, joint sand and edge restraints. Hauling away old material can also add to the total when replacing an existing surface.
- What should I work out before ordering pavers and base material?
- Measure the area's length and width, then use the supplier's coverage rates to calculate material quantities. Excavation depth needs to account for the combined thickness of the base, bedding sand and pavers—beyond just the pavers themselves. Choose the paver style and design with the climate and intended use in mind.
- Can I apply joint sand while the patio is wet?
- Wait until the area is dry before joint sand is applied. Check the surface condition before starting that stage rather than applying sand simply because the pavers are laid. Joint sand and bedding sand have different roles: bedding sand sits beneath the pavers, while joint sand fills the gaps between them.
Have a different situation?
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