A brick paver patio comes together by planning slope, building a compacted base, and setting pavers on a one-inch sand bed.
Ready to lay a solid, long-lasting hangout zone? This guide walks you through planning, layout, excavation, base prep, screeding, laying, cutting, and finishing. You’ll see what to buy, how deep to dig, how much pitch to set, and the sequence that keeps edges straight and joints tight.
Plan The Site And Get Utilities Marked
Pick a spot that drains away from the house. Mark out the shape with stakes and string. Call your local locate service a few days ahead so buried lines get marked before any digging. In many regions you can use the national “811” request to trigger that ticket.
Tools, Materials, And Specs At A Glance
Use this quick table while you shop. It lists common gear, what each item does, and a field note that saves time.
| Item | What It Does | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| String line & stakes | Outline shape and set pitch | Run strings level first, then drop the outflow side by 1/4 in. per ft. |
| Flat shovel & spade | Cut sod and trench edges | Slice sod in squares for a cleaner removal |
| Wheelbarrow | Move aggregate and sand | Two buckets fit across to portion materials |
| Plate compactor | Consolidate subgrade and base | Compact base in lifts no thicker than 4 in. |
| Hand tamper | Reach corners and edges | Tamp after each base lift near restraints |
| Crushed stone (3/4 in.) | Creates a load-bearing base | Order washed angular aggregate, not round pea gravel |
| Concrete edge restraint or spikes | Holds field in place | Place restraints tight to pavers after laying |
| Washed concrete sand | One-inch bedding layer | Use C33 gradation; avoid stone dust |
| Pavers | Wear layer | Mix bundles for color blend |
| Polymeric joint sand | Locks joints and sheds washout | Sweep dry, then activate with a soft shower |
| Diamond blade & saw | Trim borders and notches | Dry-fit cuts before sweeping sand |
Build A Patio With Brick Pavers: Step-By-Step
1) Set Layout, Pitch, And Height
Drive stakes at corners, pull strings, and square the rectangle with the 3-4-5 rule. Pick a finished height that sits at least two inches below door thresholds. Set a steady pitch away from structures—aim for 1/4 in. per foot (about 2%). Extend the layout 6 in. beyond the final footprint to make room for restraints.
2) Excavate And Compact The Subgrade
Strip sod and dig to the required depth: base thickness + one inch for sand + paver thickness. For most yards with well-drained soil, plan 4–6 in. of aggregate under patios; add depth for clay, frost, or heavy loads. Shape the subgrade to match the final pitch. Run the plate compactor until the surface is firm with no heel prints.
3) Place Geotextile Where Soil Is Soft
Soft or silty areas can pump under traffic. A woven separator between soil and base can keep the stone from migrating. Lap seams by at least 12 in., and pin it flat.
4) Build The Aggregate Base In Lifts
Spread 3/4-in. angular stone in 3–4 in. lifts. Compact each lift with overlapping passes until the plate rides smooth and the stone hums, not crunches. Keep the base on grade and at the planned pitch. Check with a level set on a board or a laser reader.
5) Screed A One-Inch Sand Bed
Set two straight pipes on the compacted base and pull a screed board to create a flat one-inch layer. Use washed concrete sand, not masonry sand or stone dust. Lift the rails and fill the voids. Do not walk on the freshly screeded zone.
6) Lay Pavers In Your Pattern
Start on a straight edge and lay from the center out, pulling from multiple pallets for a blended color. Keep joints tight and gaps uniform. Tap down high pieces with a rubber mallet. Check square every few courses so the pattern doesn’t drift.
7) Cut To Fit And Set Edge Restraints
Dry-fit border cuts, then mark and saw with a segmented diamond blade. Sweep shards away. Install edge restraints snug to the field and spike them into the base at the spacing the maker lists. Good edging keeps the field from spreading.
8) Compact The Field
Place a pad under the compactor plate if your surface is textured. Make two to three passes in different directions to seat the units into the sand bed.
9) Sweep In Joint Sand And Activate
Dry-sweep polymeric sand across the surface until joints are full. Remove dust from the face. Mist in gentle passes to set the binders—flooding can wash the blend out. Block the area from foot traffic until the maker’s cure time passes.
Pitch, Drainage, And Water Paths
Keep water moving away from the foundation and toward lawn, a drain inlet, or a swale. A steady 1/4 in. per foot pitch works for most hardscape surfaces. If the patio sits near a doorway, leave a small step or threshold drop so splash doesn’t blow inside. Where space is tight, add a channel drain at the low side and tie it to an outlet.
Check Slope During The Build
Check grade at three stages—subgrade, top of base, and top of pavers. If pitch is off at any stage, fix it before moving on. Trying to pull slope with a thick or thin sand bed leads to waves and settlements.
Cutting, Borders, And Patterns That Stay Straight
Running bond is fast and forgiving. Herringbone resists movement near edges and grills. Soldier or sailor borders frame the field and hide small out-of-square shifts. Snap chalk lines every few courses to keep the layout true.
Material Picks That Pass The Build Test
Choose The Right Sand
Use washed concrete sand for the bedding layer. The gradation marked as C33 sheds water and packs tight at one inch. Skip stone dust; it holds moisture under the field. For joints, polymeric blends marked to the C144 sieve spec pack well and cure into a semi-rigid fill that stands up to rain and ants.
Pick Paver Thickness For The Job
For foot traffic, 60-mm units are standard. Driveways use 80-mm stock. Mix bundles during laying to keep color blend even.
Cost, Quantities, And A Sample Takeoff
Here’s a quick way to plan material counts for a 12 ft × 16 ft rectangle (192 sq ft). Add 5–10% for cuts and waste.
Sample Takeoff
- Pavers: 200–212 sq ft of coverage from pallets to cover waste.
- Base stone: 4 in. thick × 192 sq ft ≈ 2.4 cu yd; 6 in. thick ≈ 3.6 cu yd.
- Bedding sand: 1 in. over 192 sq ft ≈ 0.6 cu yd.
- Polymeric sand: 2–3 bags per 100 sq ft, joint width dependent.
- Edging: Linear feet around the slab plus 10%.
Weather Windows And Curing
Set dates with a dry forecast above 40°F. Rain during activation can wash binders and stain the face. Keep sprinklers off the area for two days after joint sand activation. Cover fresh work if a shower moves in.
Safety, Code, And Permits
Mark utilities before digging. Use the national request line at 811. Check local rules for setbacks, lot lines, or drainage limits. Wear eye and ear protection during cutting and compaction. Use dust-rated masks when handling dry sands.
Care, Cleaning, And Annual Checks
Blow leaves and grit off the surface in spring and fall. Pull weeds that seed in the top of joints. Refill any low joints with the same polymeric blend during dry weather. If a corner settles, lift that patch, add base stone, re-screed, and reset. Avoid harsh de-icers on the first season.
Common Mistakes And Quick Fixes
Skipping Pitch Checks
Water that sits on the field tells you pitch is off. The fix is to regrade the base, not to rake the sand thicker on one side.
Thin Base Near Edges
Borders carry rolling grills and carts. Keep base depth full right to the restraint and extend six inches beyond.
Screeding With Masonry Sand
Masonry blends are too fine and hold moisture. Swap to washed concrete sand for the bedding layer.
Flooding Polymeric Joints
A mist is all you need. Heavy streams float binders out of joints and stain the face. Use a shower nozzle and make two light passes.
How Deep Should The Base Be?
Depth depends on soil, freeze cycles, and loads. Here’s a simple guide for patios. Go deeper in clay or where frost heave is a known issue. Compact every lift and widen the base six inches beyond the edge on all sides.
| Setting | Base Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well-drained soil, mild freeze | 4–6 in. | Common for yards with light furniture |
| Clay soil or colder zone | 6–8 in. | Helps resist pumping and heave |
| High loads or poor drainage | 8–12 in. | Add geotextile and add a drain run |
Printable Build Card
Keep this short checklist on site:
- Mark utilities, set layout, square the strings
- Dig to base + 1 in. sand + paver thickness
- Compact subgrade; add fabric where soils are soft
- Place base in 3–4 in. lifts; compact to pitch
- Screed 1 in. of washed concrete sand
- Lay field; cut borders; set restraints
- Compact, sweep polymeric sand, mist to set