subject: Building A Patio With Unilock Pavers [print this page] Consequently it's courtyard time and your outdoor patio remains non-existent. You're missing out on interlocking bricks. You wish to have your folks over in the yard, nevertheless they keep creating a mess of your property. In case you don't have the correct type of area for a raised real wood outdoor patio, or perhaps like the look, interlocking patio stones may give your backyard garden the design and style it deserves, and keep you from having to fix up your property following an adventurous get together.
The first task to contemplate with this process is that often installing patio stones just isn't an easy task. They're weighty, grubby, the operation is slow, and also the results can vary greatly on your skill level. Using a professional could be a wise course of action. To prevent fatigue on your end, maybe those same mates who keep ruining your backyard could visit and be helpful for once! Kidding aside, professional help at any phase is recommended to get your patio stones looking their best.
First use tent stakes and string to clearly outline the space you want your patio to cover. Get some of your own bricks ready at this moment and begin lining them up along the string. Keep about a Popsicle stick amount of distance between them. Helpful idea; have popsicles ready in your freezer; you can say it's a valuable measuring instrument for the task. Upon having your bricks lined up (and your Popsicle eaten) you can begin shifting them so that you have good crisp and clean edges. This will help save you a lot of time down the road as you will not need to cut them.
Once you have the outline prepared to go it's time to start digging. This can be the time to get a great deal of help. Maybe you could entice friends and family with popsicles? Dig down about 4 to 5 inches, and extend the excavated area about an inch beyond the string.
Next install a strong plastic edging around the perimeter. Tent nails can be used to keep it in position, make sure the top of it is line with the un-excavated ground level. Use string now to indicate where the ground level is over your excavated area. This will help you ensure that is stays level as you install the patio stones.
The next phase is to use concrete, lime, or sand as an under layer. Most seasoned contractors find that lime is the best and cheapest option. Fill your excavated area with the lime till it is roughly even with your string, and even it out with a metal rake. This again is when you're going to need those friends because it is time to compact this under layer. A cinder block is useful, a compactor you may rent works best. With this done level off your whole patio area employing a 2X4 piece of wood the length of your patio area.
Now the fun begins and your patio starts to take shape as it's time to place your bricks. Start closest to your house and work out. Pound every single brick by using a rubber mallet to be positive it is in position. Keep placing them until you have made use of each of the full bricks that you can. Employ a simple chisel to chop partial bricks. Take the time to measure twice and cut once, it's a time and frustration saver.
Given that your patio is almost done, it's really a question of filling everything in with sand by spreading it all across your new patio and sweeping it into all of the cracks. That's it, the hard job is completed now settle back, rest, enjoy the interlocking bricks of your new patio, and have any type of bash you'd like without dreading for your yards wellbeing.