Frequently asked questions

Pavers generally cost 50 cents or more per brick or between $3 and $15 per square foot, but expect higher prices if you choose unusual sizes, rare colors or odd shapes

The sand used when building a paver patio or walk is a coarse builder's sand, with pieces ranging in size from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. It may be called C-33, all-purpose or leveling sand. A fine grade of sand, such as joint or play sand, or rock dust is not suitable for laying pavers..

Polymeric Sand works best when it is used to fill the entire depth of the paver. In addition, it works best on joints that are between ¼ inch and 1.5 inches wide.

To determine how far down to dig, add the depth of your pavers and the setting bed depth, plus the base material. The thickness of the base material is dependent on the pavers' purpose; for sidewalks and patios, the paver base is about 4 inches; for driveways, it's about 8 inches.

Prevent the pavers from shifting around by adding a solid edge to your patio. You can use a cement lip, plastic or metal edging. When you're finished, spread fine sand over the patio and sweep it into the cracks to help hold the bricks in place. You might consider using polymeric sand for increased longevity.

Sand the Joints. Once all the pavers are set in place, spread more sand over the top of them. Sweep the sand between the joints with a push broom. Use the same type of irregular, sharp-grained sand as you did for the base and bedding layers

You have several ways to install pavers, including directly over dirt, in mortar or over a bed of gravel and sand. While you don't need to lay a gravel foundation for pavers, you should assess the condition of the base and make it as solid as possible before laying the pavers.

To estimate the cubic yards of sand and gravel needed for a paver base follow these steps: Measure the length and width of the patio in inches Multiply the length and width to find the area in square inches Multiply the area by the gravel depth in inches to find the volume in cubic inches Divide gravel cubic inches by 46,656 to find the amount of gravel in cubic yards Multiply the area by the sand depth in inches to find the volume in cubic inches Divide sand cubic inches by 46,656 to find the amount of sand in cubic yards

Owners of asphalt driveways often seal them too frequently, and owners of concrete driveways don't seal them at all, experts say. Sealing an asphalt driveway gives it a fresh, black finish, but the job should be done only once every two or three years

Sand remaining on paver faces can create a slight haze after wetting. A minimum of24 hours drying time is required prior to allowing significant foot traffic and 48 hoursfor vehicular traffic on the paver surface. Polymeric sands are designed to soften and re-heal