How far to dig for a patio paver project

Re: How far to dig for a patio paver project

• kastle

  May 2010

  you may want to get hte latest issue of Fine Gardening.  They have an how-to article on doing a paver patio.
  

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• genwebb

  May 2010

  You can see my entire patio project here.

  We dug about 4 inches on the short end (18 inches in to the hill).

  If you have any questions feel free to email me.
  

   

  

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• genwebb

  May 2010

  Also the 4 inch side is now level with the ground.  If you are doing a layer of gravel + a layer of sand + the pavers, you will be just about level at that point.  I think 2 inches is def too shallow.  It does sink a bit over time but I don't think I would go less than 4 just so it's all in there nice and tight.
  

  

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• musgral8 member

  May 2010

  In all of my engineering classes we've been taught 6", assuming that you're using an approximately 4" tall paver. You want to lay at least 2" of gravel and then put sand on top, and then tamp so that it settles and creates a nice bed. The pavers will then sit on top nicely and you shouldn't have any sinking problems if you compact correctly. 

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• ~NB~ member

  

  May 2010

  musgral8:

  In all of my engineering classes we've been taught 6", assuming that you're using an approximately 4" tall paver. You want to lay at least 2" of gravel and then put sand on top, and then tamp so that it settles and creates a nice bed. The pavers will then sit on top nicely and you shouldn't have any sinking problems if you compact correctly. 

  I agree. And it ain't because of all my engineering classes.

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• JennyQ1985

  May 2010

  Thanks ladies!  We are having our landscapers do all the prep work, so they will be digging, but my cousin is laying the pavers.  We're going with 6 inches.
  

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