Laying a Paver Path

Whether you have a formal English garden, or simply a little sanctuary that you call your own, a paver path can help set exactly the right tone for your landscaping. Laying a paver path is a whole lot easier to do than you may imagine, as long as you follow these simple guidelines. In fact, laying this kind of a path is so easy to do, that it can actually be a wonderful project for a novice landscaper. Here's what you need to do.

• Get your dimensions. When laying a paver path, one of the very first things that you need to do is to actually determine the size of the area that you are working with. This will later help you obtain the correct amount of materials. While you could measure the entire area of your yard, you don't really need to. Instead, measure the area where you will be having the path laid down. Write these measurements down.
• Draw it out. It is always a good idea to actually have a blue print to work from, and laying a paver path is no different. Sketch out a rough drawing of what you want your path to look like, and be sure that you write the measurements down as well next to your sketch. The easiest type of path to make is actually one that is pretty straight. Avoid using unnecessary twists, turns, or curves to keep your project from being too difficult, while also making it really easy to get the materials that you need.
• Get your materials. Take your list of dimensions and your blue print and go to your local home improvement store. Show the blue print, and the dimensions to one of the clerks, and they will be able to help you get enough pavers, boards, coarse sand, fine sand, and tools to get the job done. While you are at the store, be sure that you also pick up either some white spray paint, or some stakes and twine.
• Mark it out. Once you get home with your materials it is time to mark out the path. This to measure out the exact location of where you want your path to go, and then mark it out using either the paint stakes and twine that you purchased. Either will work, though the spray paint is usually better as you will be less likely to trip over paint, as you would with the stakes and twine.
• Dig it out. After you have marked out the path it is time to begin digging it out. Begin at one end of the path, near the edge and work your way to the other. Try to keep the edges as straight as possible, but don't worry too much. Dig down to a depth of about four inches, and make sure that the bottom is as level as possible.
• Install it. Now that you have dug out the path, it is time to install everything. Begin by lining the edges of the path with some wooden boards. These boards will help keep everything in place, and will act as a frame for the entire path. The best kinds of boards to use are actually 2 inches by 4 inches. Once you have the boards in place, begin spreading out the coarse sand. Level the sand as much as possible to a depth of about 1 inch. After you have leveled the sand, begin to lay the pavers down. Work from one end of the path to the other, and periodically check to make sure that the pavers are level. Once you have finished laying the pavers, spread the fine sand over the tops of the pavers using a broom. This will help to get the sand into the cracks and fill them up, making it less likely for the pavers to move later on.
• Clean it up. All that you have to do now is clean up from your project. Congratulations, you have now laid a paver path.