How to Build a Patio

Learning how to build a patio can be a great early project for the inexperienced builder. A simple patio is very forgiving undertaking and will provide you and your family with extra outdoor living space you'll be able to enjoy for years.

How To Build A Patio With Simple Materials

One of the easiest ways to build patios is to create a firm foundation and then use sand to anchor pavers in place. You and a helper can build this type of patio in a weekend. Hit the ground running with these tips:

• Pick your spot. Although most patios are located adjacent to the rear entrance of the house, feel free to locate your in an area that makes sense to you. You're looking for a level area, preferably one that gets some afternoon shade. Locating your patio to take advantage of a view, to get away from neighbors or to take advantage of a large shade tree are a few reasons why might want to place your patio away from the house.
• Decide on your pavers. You have a number of options when it comes to paving the surface of your patio. Bricks, concrete pavers, slate and flagstone are all acceptable materials for creating a patio. While bricks and pavers are easier to work with, stone can create a dramatic, one-of-a-kind look.
• Lay out your patio. Once you've decided where to put your patio, you'll need to mark the limits of the structure on the ground. For rectilinear patios, put stakes in the ground at the corners and run string tightly between the stakes. For a curved patio, lay a string or garden hose in the shape of the patio and then mark the ground with landscaping paint or chalk dust.
• Get digging. After marking the perimeter of the patio, you'll need to remove all turf and soil from the patio area, leaving a fairly level hole about 8" deep.
• Install edging. Your patio will need a firm boundary to remain stable. For edging, pressure-treated wood is inexpensive and easy to work with. If you are using regularly shaped pavers like bricks or concrete blocks, the pavers themselves can be used as edging. Whatever edging you choose, it needs to be secured firmly. In the case of wood edging, this means pounding stakes in and nailing the edging to the stakes. For paver edging, the pavers should be set on end and pounded into the ground edge-to-edge. Once the edging is in place, backfill the outside of the edging with soil from your earlier excavation.
• Add gravel bedding. After installing the edging, pour enough gravel into the patio area to create a bed 4" deep. Spread the gravel evenly with a rake and tamp it down firmly. Check the surface slope regularly-you want a slope of 1" per 4'-and adjust as needed. If your patio is next to your house, the slope should be away from the house.
• Stop weeds. A layer of landscape fabric over the gravel will block weeds and keep sand from migrating down into the gravel bed. Overlap lengths of fabric by 6" for the best coverage.
• Add sand. Pour sand over the landscape fabric to a depth of 2" or so. Use a length of 2"x4" wood to smooth the sand and be sure to maintain your 1" to 4' slope along the top of the sand.
• Add pavers. Install your paving material over the surface of the sand in an attractive pattern. Make sure the pavers have spacing of 1/8" or less. With a rubber mallet, gently tap each paver into the sand bed. Periodically, drag a length of 2"x4" across the surface to check for high or low spots-correct as required.
• A clean sweep. Once all the pavers are in place, sprinkle sand over the surface of the patio. Drive the sand into the gaps between pavers using a broom. Settle the sand between the pavers by carefully misting with a garden hose. Allow the sand to dry and repeat the process a few hours later.