Should I do my own paving?

Should I do my own paving?

Is it worth using a professional such as Maulden Garden Services to design, provide and install your paving or could you simply do it yourself?

We sincerely hope you choose Maulden Garden Services but to help you with this decision we have created a step by step guide that you can follow. Clearly there are many other details to consider by hopefully this will help you justify your decision.

Step 1

Mark out the area to be paved and remove all the existing surfacing to a depth so that the finished level is at least 150mm (2 bricks) below the damp proof course. For drainage purposes create a 1:80 slope during excavation that runs away from any building or fence.

Step 2

Install any manhole covers, drainage channels and edge restraints as required.

Step 3

Fill the excavated area with at least 100mm of sub-base material and compact well with the plate vibrator, filling voids with sharp sand.

Step 4

Spread sharp sand to a depth of 50mm, compact it with the plate vibrator and spread a further 15mm of sharp sand over the area as a loose screed and level correctly.

Step 5

Lay one course of blocks on the sand along all edge restraints.

Step 6

Lay the blocks hand tight only, with a joint gap of 2-5mm, starting in one corner and at the bottom if there is a slope. Lay blocks from at least three packs to ensure even distribution of colour. Cut in at edges using a block cutter or bolster chisel and club hammer.

Step 7

Sweep the area thoroughly, particularly if a block cutter has been used. Replace any damaged blocks.

Step 8

Compact the whole area with three to four passes of the plate vibrator in perpendicular directions and overlapping.

Step 9

Sweep Jointing Sand over the entire area, ensuring it gets into all the joints between blocks. Jointing Sand should not be applied in wet weather, as it will not fill the joints properly.

Step 10

Fill any gaps which appear in the joints and vibrate the whole area again. Repeat until there are no gaps and leave any surplus sand for the wind and rain to wash into joints as they settle.

Happy Paving!