Installation Instructions

12
Use your level and a straight 2x4 to double-check the
lay of the land for proper slope. Then spray-paint a
line 8" outside the outline of your patio to act as a line
of excavation. Be sure to call to locate and mark out
your utility lines, this must be done before beginning
excavation. Start by stripping away the sod at this point
(Image 3), so grass doesn’t get in the way of the guide
strings you’ll soon be setting up.
Excavating The Site
And Building The Base
This part of the project is the key to a successful (and
long-lasting) patio.
Use the bottom of a door or a set of stairs abutting the
patio area as the starting point for establishing the nal
height and slope of you patio. Your entire patio should
slope away from the house at a rate of 1" every 4' to
8' This slope may be one long decline or a slight dome
shape so water runs o in more that one direction.
Place one end of a long 2x4 at the bottom of the stairway
or an inch below the door threshold, then level across
to stakes driven at the perimeter of the patio and make
a mark (Image 4). Make another mark the appropriate
distance down the stake to indicate the slope. In our
case, after making a level mark on our stake with a level
and 12' 2x4, we made another mark 2" down to indicate a
slope of 2" for that 12'.
Remove sod in an area extending 8"
beyond the boundaries of the patio.
Spray paint indicates the excavation line.
3
Use a level, a 2x4 and stakes to determine the
slope of the patio. A slope of 1" per 4-8' away
from the house is ideal. Run stakes and a grid
of string to mark the top of the nished patio,
then excavate 5" PLUS the thickness of the paver
below the strings.*
4
PAVERS
*When installing pavers as a residential driveway, a minimum of 8" of subbase will be required. See local code for details.
PAVER PATIO & SIDEWALK INSTALLATION