| Creating a patio with patio pavers is quite a large job | | | | for you, but by all means don't let a contractor begin |
| for a do-it-yourself project. Once you understand | | | | without some kind of plan that you have okayed. |
| what steps you must take in order to have a quality | | | | Don't let him or her design your patio for you, as |
| patio that will last for years, you may decide that | | | | they may be quick to offer to do, unless they have |
| you need to hire a contractor. Unfortunately, that | | | | shown you credentials or examples of their work. |
| can be a daunting proposition because there are | | | | If you feel that a particular landscape contractor has |
| many landscape contractors out there with varying | | | | the ability to work with you on a design plan, get |
| degrees of skill. In some states they don't even need | | | | your ideas together and schedule a meeting to figure |
| a license to be a landscape contractor. This article will | | | | it out. Bring your designer if you have one to this |
| give you some of the necessary knowledge you'll | | | | meeting. Together with the contractor you can |
| need to hire the right person. | | | | quickly make decisions and devise a plan that will |
| To assure a positive outcome you must first | | | | result in you getting what you want at the best |
| understand the basic concepts of patio construction, | | | | possible price. |
| and they are not complicated! A solid base is created | | | | The contractor (and your designer) should be able to |
| upon which to lay the patio pavers. Then the pavers | | | | tell you when your big idea will cost too much to |
| are laid out in the appropriate pattern. Then the | | | | implement at which point you can together decide on |
| spaces between the pavers (called joints) are filled. | | | | a more reasonable approach. Perhaps he/she doesn't |
| Without the solid foundation called the base, your | | | | know how to do what you want for a reasonable |
| patio will fall apart in a few years. Therefore this step | | | | cost. Then you may have to say thanks and pay him |
| is the most important and possibly the most | | | | her for the consultation and move on to the next |
| expensive step but without it you are doomed. | | | | contractor. Once a contractor has a plan for the |
| You can expect, after deciding on a design and laying | | | | patio he/she will be able to provide an estimate |
| out it out on site, to: | | | | reflecting how much it will cost you to have them |
| - Excavate down to a determined depth depending | | | | construct your patio. This estimate, of course, can be |
| on the climate in which you live and what your subsoil | | | | negotiated until both sides are happy. |
| is like. | | | | Once you have hired a contractor that you feel |
| - Fill in with a layer of crushed stone and compact | | | | comfortable with, you'll set a date for construction |
| with a compacting machine. | | | | and expect to see him and his crew on that date. |
| - Fill in and compact on top of the crushed stone a | | | | Some expertise is needed to lay out a patio in a |
| layer of finer aggregate such as sand or stone grit to | | | | graceful and satisfying way. One of the most |
| create a bed for laying in the patio pavers. | | | | important aspects of this is the construction |
| - Install an edging material. Any paving with patio | | | | professional's ability to translate your design to the |
| pavers (unit pavers) requires that an edge be | | | | finished built product. You might have drawn out a |
| installed to hold the patio together over time. Bricks, | | | | graceful curve that could become decidedly |
| cobblestones and bluestone set on edge, can all | | | | ungraceful once built unless the two-dimensional plan |
| make beautiful visual edges as a part of your paving | | | | is correctly translated to your three dimensional yard. |
| pattern; however, they can not function as a physical | | | | A landscape designer can help with this process. |
| edge, so a metal or heavy plastic edging material is | | | | Your contractor should have tools such as layout |
| used. It is installed flush with the ground so that you | | | | string, stakes, measuring devices such as rulers and |
| will not see it. The best edgers are made of steel or | | | | 'scales', levels, and squares in order to properly |
| even better, aluminum that is lightweight and highly | | | | translate your design into 3 dimensions. Once you feel |
| flexible. | | | | confident that the proper methods are being used |
| - Lay in patio pavers | | | | for lay out, stay around until you see your design |
| - Fill in joints | | | | correctly drawn out with spray paint on the ground. |
| Part 1 of this article "Patio Pavers: Facts to Know | | | | If it looks good to you then okay the construction. |
| Before You Get Started" described the pros and | | | | Keep an eye on your contractor and don't be afraid |
| cons of some of the most popular choices of patio | | | | to ask questions and even correct something you |
| pavers available on the market. Now that you have | | | | know is wrong. It's easier to correct things in the |
| an idea of what materials you would like to use, you | | | | building phase than after construction is completed. |
| can make a design plan for your patio. You could just | | | | The more you know about the process of patio |
| sketch out your ideas on paper or discuss your ideas | | | | construction the better outcome can be expected! |
| with a landscape designer who can prepare drawings | | | | |