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installation of pavers - would like advice Jake 02-06-2007
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Posted by Jake on February 6, 2007, 7:51 pm
I am going to make an attempt to install pavers in my back yard. I
want to make a fairly large patio - (the length of my home and at
least twelve feet out) + a walkway in the side yard. I would like
some advice from someone who has taken on a project like this. I have
heard it is fairly simple, but backbreaking. Here are a few of the
things I would like to find out more about:

1) Is this REALLY a do-it-yourself project or is this the sort of
thing thats better left to a pro?

2) For such a large space, and limited amount of time (weekends),
would I (and 1 other person) be able to complete this in a few
weekends or is this the sort of project you have to finish right
away.

3) Is it cost effective to do it myself? I plan on getting quotes
eventually, but am I going to end up saving a lot of money by doing it
myself or is it only marginally more expensive to hire a contractor to
do it.


Posted by tmurf.1@juno.com on February 6, 2007, 8:13 pm
> I am going to make an attempt to install pavers in my back yard. I
> want to make a fairly large patio - (the length of my home and at
> least twelve feet out) + a walkway in the side yard. I would like
> some advice from someone who has taken on a project like this. I have
> heard it is fairly simple, but backbreaking. Here are a few of the
> things I would like to find out more about:
>
> 1) Is this REALLY a do-it-yourself project or is this the sort of
> thing thats better left to a pro?
>
> 2) For such a large space, and limited amount of time (weekends),
> would I (and 1 other person) be able to complete this in a few
> weekends or is this the sort of project you have to finish right
> away.
>
> 3) Is it cost effective to do it myself? I plan on getting quotes
> eventually, but am I going to end up saving a lot of money by doing it
> myself or is it only marginally more expensive to hire a contractor to
> do it.

It is way more expensive to hire a contractor, way more. Get some
estimates and ask them how they will do the job then just do it your
self.


Posted by v8z on February 6, 2007, 9:25 pm
> I am going to make an attempt to install pavers in my back yard. I
> want to make a fairly large patio - (the length of my home and at
> least twelve feet out) + a walkway in the side yard. I would like
> some advice from someone who has taken on a project like this. I have
> heard it is fairly simple, but backbreaking. Here are a few of the
> things I would like to find out more about:
>
> 1) Is this REALLY a do-it-yourself project or is this the sort of
> thing thats better left to a pro?
>
> 2) For such a large space, and limited amount of time (weekends),
> would I (and 1 other person) be able to complete this in a few
> weekends or is this the sort of project you have to finish right
> away.
>
> 3) Is it cost effective to do it myself? I plan on getting quotes
> eventually, but am I going to end up saving a lot of money by doing it
> myself or is it only marginally more expensive to hire a contractor to
> do it.
>
Manual labor = sweat equity...this is a project where the labor cost is way
more than the materials.

Seriously, it is a do-it-yourself project if you are up to the manual labor
of digging out the area to get it level, deep enough to get a good compacted
base and hauling all the limestone, sand, and pavers around. ( 20 years ago
I did one myself, today I'd pay someone else to bust their butt)

You can do it in sections, but keep the finished portions under a tarp until
all the pavers are laid and sand grouted. As far as how long it'll take,
depnds on how hard / fast you can dig and push a wheelbarrow. Don't forget
to consider where you can put the dirt and sod you'll be digging out - maybe
a raised planting bed?

A couple of 3' long stakes and 50' of clear vinyl tubing filled with water
will help you level the area ( http://www.watrlevel.com/,
http://www.simplelevel.com/ ). You have to dig out the soil and grass down
far enough to allow for a couple of inches of compacted crushed limestone
then a couple of inches of compacted sand. After you've got it dug out and
the limestone wheelbarrowed in and roughly leveled, rent a flat plate
vibratory compactor ( gas engine with a lawnmower like walk behind handle).
Compact the limestone, then spead and do the same with the sand before
setting any pavers. Getting a good solid base will prevent it from all
sinking and heaving in a year or two.



Posted by Mark and Kim Smith on February 7, 2007, 5:51 am
Jake wrote:

>I am going to make an attempt to install pavers in my back yard. I
>want to make a fairly large patio - (the length of my home and at
>least twelve feet out) + a walkway in the side yard. I would like
>some advice from someone who has taken on a project like this. I have
>heard it is fairly simple, but backbreaking. Here are a few of the
>things I would like to find out more about:
>
>1) Is this REALLY a do-it-yourself project or is this the sort of
>thing thats better left to a pro?
>
>

I just did this: http://www.bunchobikes.com/pond166.jpg
http://www.bunchobikes.com/pond167.jpg

I have a 13' x 60' area planned by the end of summer. All done by me.
The kids didn't even help!! Pick, shovel, wheel barrel and a pair of
gloves.

>2) For such a large space, and limited amount of time (weekends),
>would I (and 1 other person) be able to complete this in a few
>weekends or is this the sort of project you have to finish right
>away.
>
>

Take your time. The only rush I had was to get the rental compactor
back to the store.

>3) Is it cost effective to do it myself? I plan on getting quotes
>eventually, but am I going to end up saving a lot of money by doing it
>myself or is it only marginally more expensive to hire a contractor to
>do it.
>
>

I think that I estimated that doing cement myself would have been
cheaper, but that was too back breaking and I had no one to help. So
the slightly extra cost of the pavers was worth it.

My procedure, less the cement work, was to dig down 7". Lay 4" of Class
II base. Compact. Screed a layer of paver sand ( high.) Set pavers.
Compact. Cover pavers with sand. Compact. Sweep off sand. Enjoy look
of new paver driveway!

Posted by Jake on February 7, 2007, 1:27 pm
So is a good compromise to hire a contractor to do the digging (since
I dont have anything to do with all that dirt). The rest I could
potentially do myself and not screw anything up?



> Jake wrote:
> >I am going to make an attempt to install pavers in my back yard. I
> >want to make a fairly large patio - (the length of my home and at
> >least twelve feet out) + a walkway in the side yard. I would like
> >some advice from someone who has taken on a project like this. I have
> >heard it is fairly simple, but backbreaking. Here are a few of the
> >things I would like to find out more about:
>
> >1) Is this REALLY a do-it-yourself project or is this the sort of
> >thing thats better left to a pro?
>
> I just did this: http://www.bunchobikes.com/pond166.jpg
http://www.bunchobikes.com/pond167.jpg
>
> I have a 13' x 60' area planned by the end of summer. All done by me.
> The kids didn't even help!! Pick, shovel, wheel barrel and a pair of
> gloves.
>
> >2) For such a large space, and limited amount of time (weekends),
> >would I (and 1 other person) be able to complete this in a few
> >weekends or is this the sort of project you have to finish right
> >away.
>
> Take your time. The only rush I had was to get the rental compactor
> back to the store.
>
> >3) Is it cost effective to do it myself? I plan on getting quotes
> >eventually, but am I going to end up saving a lot of money by doing it
> >myself or is it only marginally more expensive to hire a contractor to
> >do it.
>
> I think that I estimated that doing cement myself would have been
> cheaper, but that was too back breaking and I had no one to help. So
> the slightly extra cost of the pavers was worth it.
>
> My procedure, less the cement work, was to dig down 7". Lay 4" of Class
> II base. Compact. Screed a layer of paver sand ( high.) Set pavers.
> Compact. Cover pavers with sand. Compact. Sweep off sand. Enjoy look
> of new paver driveway!



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