If you are interested in adding hardscape to your home, such as in the form of a walkway, patio, driveway, or other installation, there are a number of things to keep in mind before you begin your DIY paving project.
The first decision you have to make is what material to use for your project. Much of this website describes the benefits of selecting concrete pavers for your project, but there are other DIY block paving materials that you can use, including brick pavers, natural stone pavers, paving slabs, and others. You can go beyond paving stones as well into concrete (including colored and stamped), asphalt, stone, and other choices. Ultimately, your decision will rest on three factors. First, your budget: some options are cheaper than others, even if you are doing it yourself. Second, the theme of your home, or the design you want to create. Certain material options work better with certain designs and themes for a home or backyard.
Third, your option will depend on your own do-it-yourself skills. DIY paving is not easy, but certain materials make the job a little bit easier. For instance, installing an asphalt driveway yourself will be very difficult, while installing a concrete driveway a little less hard, and with DIY block paving even ‘easer.’ The easiest is simply spreading stones in the area, though this has a number of disadvantages as well. In the end, you’ll need to know your own DIY capabilities in order to narrow down your material choices.
How to work with paving stones is dealt with on other pages in this website. Here we will give only the most major considerations you’ll need to think about when putting together your own project:
1) Make sure you have the right tools and materials for the job.
2) Don’t take shortcuts. A “time saver” may actually cost you more time and money in the long run. Do it right the first time.
3) Get good information. This website will help, but everyone’s individual situation and project is different. You may want to consult with a contractor, mason, or your paving stone manufacturer for more tips and hints.
4) Spend a lot of time preparing the base properly. Mistakes in the base can be devastating to the final product, especially because it’s a pain to correct those mistakes without starting over. For example, you’ll want to make sure it’s graded properly. You don’t want water pooling or flooding where it doesn’t belong, and you want to make sure that the final product is at the appropriate height. DIY paving is all about the effort you put into the preparation, so be sure to spend the time and money necessary to get the job done right.
Tags: DIY
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