Brick Paver Installation & Edging



Staging of material

Many paver projects will vary depending on access, website conditions, task size and naturally, the weather condition. These circumstances can have an overall impact on your project from a timing stand point. Mindful consideration ought to be taken to identify the time to begin the paver installation. Always aim to reduce or avoid any traffic on the ready areas.

The foreman or job supervisor ought to constantly have the materials (sand/ pavers) dispersed around the project website for simple and efficient installations. Paver pallets/bundles need to be put in a way not to interfere with the paver installation. The correct pallet/bundle placement can make the actual job installation much easier and quicker by decreasing the total labor of handling the product.

Brick paver patterns

Pavers can be positioned in many different patterns depending upon their shape. Each paver shape will normally have a number of various hatch patterns that are provided by the producer.

Contractors need to take into consideration the traffic weight loads on their paver tasks. In the majority of applications around the world, it has been shown that pavers laid in a herringbone pattern have actually carried out adequately.

Pavers that are 60 mm (2 - 3/8 in) thickness appropriate for pedestrian applications. Pavers that are going to be utilized in commercial or business applications should be 80 mm (3 - 1/8 in) in thickness.

Reference/starting point for brick paver installation

There are a variety of conditions that determine the starting point of a paver job.

When beginning to set up pavers it is best to snap a true straight chalk line on the surface of the bedding sand or pull a true straight string line above the surface area of the bed linen sand at the finished elevation of the pavers This will assist as a guide for keeping straight joint lines and will likewise allow the installer to make adjustments in the alignment of the pavers.

Structures and concrete suppressing are usually not straight and should not be used for establishing straight joint lines. The use of string lines is important to identify the real straightness of the edge. As the paver installation advances, the string lines will assist minimize the need for small trim pieces.

Joint width between pavers ought to be in between 1/16 and 3/16 in (2 and 5 mm ). There are some pavers with spacer bars on their sides. These will preserve a minimum joint width and permit the bed linen and jointing sand to get in in between each paver. Pavers with spacer bars are normally not laid in snug versus each other since a string line will provide consistent joint spacing.

Installation of brick pavers.

Among the most widely used methods for the installation of pavers is hand installation of each paver. It is best to install a single row of pavers along one of the true straight lines that you have pulled or above the bedding sand. This will provide you a straight and true line off which to work. When this row is developed, you can continue to work outside into the field with the remainder of the pavers. Constantly ensure to occasionally examine your joint lines to make sure they are straight and real. If not, adjustments to the pavers can be made as you continue installing. Pavers ought to be set up hand tight. The very best approach is to position a paver versus another one and let it move down into the bed linen sand. Do not kick or tap the pavers into location as this can toss your lines out of real straightness.

When installing pavers on a steep grade, they ought to be installed at the base of the grade going uphill. This will prevent the pavers from creeping as they are being laid.

The finest method for setting up pavers on big jobs is to install them mechanically. There are a couple items a professional ought to consider prior to setting up pavers mechanically:

1.) Mechanical installers are only capable of installing pavers in certain patterns.

2.) The contractor needs to make certain that the maker can manufacturing and bundling pavers in the desired pattern on the pallets for easy mechanical installation.

3.) Contractors might come across a color mixing situation coming off the bundles of pavers Poor color blending might lead to an irregular looking installation. The majority of producers are consistent with color blending on each bundle of pavers, however it is the specialist's obligation to guarantee proper mixing in the field.

Cutting treatments for brick pavers.

Professionals generally have two methods of cutting pavers. Pavers are cut either by 1). A double bladed guillotine or by 2). A gas powered cut off saw or brick saw which is geared up with a diamond blade. The diamond blade cut-off saw or brick saw will offer a much cleaner and more accurate cut. The majority of brick saws will have a pipe accessory on them which will permit the operator to cut the pavers damp. When cutting pavers wet, it will help decrease dust and will extend the diamond blades life. The operator of the brick saw ought to always cut the pavers far from the surface area of the paver field when cutting wet, due to the fact that the pavers will develop a slurry that will stain the paver surface. Pavers that are cut need to not fit tight, adequate spacing should be available for jointing sand.

The brick saw operator must constantly use the correct protection that is needed for running a saw, such as eye, ear, respiratory and hand defense ).

Edging types

Edge restraints play a significant function in the total success of an interlocking pavement installation Edging restraints get rid of lateral motion of the pavers and hold the pavers securely together. Especially at the external perimeter of the paver application, without an edging restraint, your task is guaranteed to fail gradually.

There are a number of various edging restraints from which professionals can choose. Usually manufactured edge restraints are the most commonly utilized by professionals. Made edging restraints can range from, plastic edging, steel and aluminum, lumbers or precast concrete and stone. An edging type that is used mostly in industrial and commercial applications is poured-in-place concrete curbs. This edging restraint is usually installed by other professionals.

Edging installation.

When installing your edge restraint, it needs to rest directly on top of the compressed gravel base. The compacted gravel base course need to extend a minimum of 6in beyond the perimeter of the pavers This will supply a proper structure upon which the edging restraint can sit. Manufactured edging (i.E. Plastic, steel or aluminum) must be firmly anchored into the compressed gravel base( check with the producer's literature for the advised spacing of the spikes). There are some edging restraints that will extend deeper into the gravel base or beyond the base course (i.E. Timbers or poured-in-place curbs ). Edging restraints need to never be positioned directly on top of the bedding sand. This might result in the migration of the bed linen sand and eventual lateral movement of the pavers. Geo textile fabric is suggested if there is a possibility of losing bed linen sand between the pavers and the edge restraint. When a space between the pavers and the edging surpasses 3/8" (10mm), then the area ought to be filled with cut pavers. All edging applications must be properly back filled after they are set up to assist offer extra stability.

Compaction of brick pavers.

After installation, the pavers have to be compacted. The entire location that is to be compacted ought to be swept tidy of any foreign objects and debris that can trigger scuffing or scratching on the surface of the pavers.

It is essential to have a compactor that can apply between 3000lbs. And 5000 pounds. Of centrifugal compaction force. In addition, it is important that the first compaction happens before any jointing sand has been applied to the pavers. If jointing sand is applied to the pavers prior to compaction happens, this can cause a bridging problem and will not permit the joints to be completely filled with jointing sand. This can also prevent the pavers from being appropriately set into the bed linen sand.

When condensing the pavers, it is recommended that you make at least two passes in various instructions throughout the pavers. This will enable the pavers to be effectively set in the bedding sand and will force the bed linen sand up into the joints from the bottom of the pavers.

The compaction of the pavers is really important to the final performance of the pavers. Failure to do appropriate compaction can result in contortions and pavement failure with time.


Paver pallets/bundles need to be placed in a manner not to interfere with the paver installation. One of the most extensively utilized methods for the installation of pavers is hand installation of each paver. The operator of the brick saw should always cut the pavers away from the surface of the paver field when cutting damp, due to the reality that the pavers will develop a slurry that will stain the paver surface area. Edging restraints eliminate lateral movement of the pavers and hold the pavers tightly together. When a gap South Florida Pavers between the pavers and the edging surpasses 3/8" (10mm), then the space must be filled with cut pavers.

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