
Paver Sand
- Paver Base. Paver base is a coarse, rough-edged gravel aggregate. ...
- Paver Sand. The sand used when building a paver patio or walk is a coarse builder's sand, with pieces ranging in size from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.
- The Construction. Excavate the site to the appropriate depth for the project. ...
- Safety Precautions. ...
What do you need to know about Paver base material?
What Size Gravel to Use for Paver Base
- Fine Gravel. Fine gravel compacts almost like sand into an almost solid base. ...
- Medium Gravel. Medium gravel is the most popular choice for a paver base. ...
- Coarse Gravel. If your driveway holds more than one car at a time or sees plenty of traffic, consider large or coarse gravel for your paver base.
- Recycled Gravel. ...
- Bottom Line. ...
Where to buy Paver base?
Product Overview
- Paver base material provides a firm, stable base
- Quickly and easily placed and spread for landscaping installation applications
- Ideal for installing patio blocks, pavers and natural stone walkways
- Can also be used as a base for decorative aggregates in ornamental gardens
- Will not fade, discolor, or attract pests like termites and ants
What is the best base for brick pavers?
What Kind of Base for Pavers?
- Sand. A thick layer of sand below your pavers will cushion them while allowing water to flow through properly.
- Crushed Stone. Roughly crushed stone makes a good base for pavers that will be used more regularly. ...
- Stone Dust. ...
- Compacted Soil. ...
What should I put under my pavers?
- Poor drainage: Compacted soil is not guaranteed to drain well. ...
- Initial unevenness: Depending on the location of your pavers, it may be challenging to get a completely even surface with compacted soil alone. ...
- Weather warping: If the soil underneath your pavers freezes in the winter, the ground may sink and buckle as it thaws unevenly. ...

What is the best material for paver base?
washed concrete sandThe Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute recommends washed concrete sand as the best base sand for pavers. Concrete sand, also known as bedding sand, is coarse and doesn't trap excess moisture beneath the paver surface.
Is paver base the same as sand?
The correct sand for laying a base under concrete pavers is concrete sand. Concrete sand is extremely course so it can be compacted uniformly and allows for adequate water drainage.
What can I use instead of paver base?
You can use gravel as a paver base as it performs the same function as paver base itself. While paver base is coarser and locks together more tightly than gravel, they are both used to form a thick layer over your landscape fabric which is then covered with sand that you lay the pavers on.
What is paver base sand?
Paver Base Sand is use for establish a solid foundation for any paver project. Its grade is clean and consistent. Is used as an underlayment to provide a firm surface before installing concrete pavers, stepping stones or retaining walls. Beige color. Easy to spread.
Can I use regular sand for paver base?
Any sand you choose to add to your installation becomes paver sand, but there's not actually any type of sand with that specific name.
Can I use just sand under pavers?
Plan on spreading 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches of sand beneath the pavers; you'll also use it to fill the gaps between them. The sand should be spread over a 4- to 12-inch layer of crushed stone, which has been tamped into place. Moisten the sand, damp it and not sit again. Once the sand has mounted.
Is gravel necessary under pavers?
The principle to remember is this: your pavers are only as stable as the base they're sitting on. That's why you'll need to lay a substantial gravel base on top of your dirt. Use road base gravel so that you get the right mix of fine and coarse aggregates for the best compaction.
Can I use pea gravel as paver base?
A long-lasting stone patio reqires a stable base. Pea gravel is a loose landscaping material composed of smooth, rounded stones between 1/8 and 1/4 inch. While pea gravel can be used as a mulch alternative, garden border and other landscaping purposes, it is not the best choice for a patio base.
Is paver base necessary?
Pavers can be laid down over plain dirt, in mortar or on top of a bed made of sand and gravel. It is not always necessary to put down a foundation, but it is generally recommended, especially if the ground is not solid or even.
Is stone dust same as paver base?
Also called rock dust, stone dust is more prone than sand to settling and drainage problems when used as a base beneath walkway or patio pavers. Stone dust has a powdery texture because it results from stones being crushed.
Types of Paver Base Materials
Your base will determine whether your pavers remain smooth and level or grow uneven with time. Qualities of a suitable base material include:
Paver Base Best Practices
Choosing a paver base material is only one aspect of creating a quality base. The way you construct the paver base ultimately impacts its effectiveness and longevity. Perhaps the most practical tip for base construction is to take your time.
Find Quality Paving Materials at Nitterhouse Masonry
However you lay the foundation for your project, Nitterhouse Masonry has durable pavers to match. Our paver selection covers a broad range of styles and uses, ensuring you’ll find a versatile and affordable option. As a family-owned and operated business for five generations, we understand longevity.
What Are Interlocking Pavers
Interlocking pavement is a flexible system that distributes the weight of a load from the surface of the pavement through to the base, protecting the subgrade from deforming by spreading that load over a wider area.
How Are Pavers Made
Pavers are made simply by adding the necessary ingredients including aggregates, cement, pigment color, additives and mixing them; adding them to a mold; and then compressing and vibrating them to meet the standards set by the manufacturer. From there they are put into a kiln to cure, stacked on a pallet, and sent off to distributors to be sold.
Dry Cast Pavers
This refers to pavers that are manufactured with very little water, just enough to hydrate the cement within the mixture. The aggregates, cement, pigment color, and additives are mixed together and poured into a mold where it is compressed and vibrated to meet the manufacturer’s strength specifications.
What is a paver base?
Paver base is a form of aggregate used in the construction of patios and walkways whose topmost layer consists of mortarless (or "dry-laid") pavers. The first layer in the construction of such a surface is called the subgrade -- this is the layer of native material underneath the intended surface. It is usually compacted and stabilized.
How thick is a paver base?
The next layer will be the paver base, composed of coarse sand and typically between 6 and 12 in (15.2 and 30.5 cm) thick, depending on anticipated traffic. The pavers are then laid on top of this, and then a uniform, fine-grained sand is poured between them.
What is a paver base?
Paver base is a gravel aggregate that has rough edges and feels coarse. It’s usually made of a variety of rocks, including granite and limestone. The base of what it’s made out of will vary depending on where you live. The rocks that are crushed up to make paver base range from tiny specks, like dust, to ¾ inches long.
Why use a paver base panel?
One of the most apparent benefits of using a paver base panel is that they require less digging. If you’re doing the work yourself, this will save you time and results in less strain on your body. The less time you have to recover from a long day doing yard work is more time to enjoy your patio.
What is the best way to add a paver patio?
There are several different ways to get the job done. Two of the most common methods are by using gravel or paver base paneling. While gravel gives more of a classic look, paver base paneling has plenty of benefits. When the two are head to head, I’d have ...
What are the benefits of pavers?
Don't want to do it yourself? 1 What is Paver Base 2 Benefits of a Panel Base#N#Requires Less Digging#N#Eliminates Heavy Gravel Fill#N#Saves Time#N#Reduces Cost of Digging and Hauling#N#Prevents Damage to Property#N#Prevents Weeds and Build-Up 3 What is Paver Gravel 4 Benefits of Paver Gravel#N#Deterrent to Weed Growth#N#Prevents Ants#N#No More Erosion#N#Durable 5 Related Questions#N#Do you need landscape fabric under pavers?#N#Can you lay pavers directly on dirt?#N#How do you stop weeds from growing through pavers?
Why is paver sand and gravel bind to the bottom of the stone?
Because paver sand and gravel binds tightly to the bottom part of the stone, it prevents erosion.
Can you put gravel under pavers?
Using gravel underneath pavers can discourage the growth of weeds, moss, and other plants. We all know how resilient weeds are and how difficult they are to get rid of. It can be tough to keep them at bay, but polymeric sand and gravel are known to get the job done.
Do ants build hills on pavers?
Ants are known for building their hills right on top of pavers. They burrow in the earth, and once pavers become loose, they work their way up to the top. Putting a layer between the natural earth and pavers will prevent them from taking over your patio or walkway.
Paver Base vs. Gravel
To be honest, this is the wrong question to ask. The better question to ask is, “What works best with the pavement that I want?”. It’s important to consider the result of a construction project and then try to figure out how to make it work best.
What is a Paver Base?
Paver base, as the name implies, is used as a base for pavements. As we all know, the ground is never perfectly flat. Bare ground is always uneven; it has lower points and higher points.
Types Of Paver Base
As we mentioned earlier, there are specific uses for the different types of paver base depending on what you want for your pavement and what it needs to work well and last. Homeowners can use each type of paver base together or separately; they can synergize with each other if constructed correctly.
What are Gravel and its Different Types?
Gravel is also a paver base, under crushed rocks, and is made out of more than 2mm in diameter but less than 65mm (as anything higher will be considered cobblestone). Manufacturers can make gravel out of all types of rocks as long as they meet the size requirements.
Gravel As A Pavement
Gravel is cheap, easy-to-use, and doesn’t need any special tools for a homeowner to install it. It can even be used as a pavement by itself if you want to. It won’t move around by itself, and it won’t just sink into the ground as the size of its particles has enough surface area to keep it together.
Paver Base vs. Gravel: When to use what?
Gravel, as a standalone hardscape, works well in conditions that experience less stress and movement. Movement can cause rocks to end up at places you don’t want them to be at; you wouldn’t want a rock suddenly getting into your lawnmower.
How are Pavements Made?
With all this information about paver base and gravel, we want to end the article by showing the application and step-by-step process of how a pavement is made. Knowing how a pavement is made will definitely help you decide on what’s best for you.
What is a paver base?
Paver base is a coarse, rough-edged gravel aggregate. It may be composed of limestone, granite or other rock, depending on your location and local building supplies. Suppliers may call it Class 5, crusher rock, road bed gravel or 3/4 minus gravel. The crushed rock ranges in size from dust particles up to 3/4 inch (19mm).
How do I put pavers in a house?
Lay the first row against a straight edge, such as the side of the house. Drop each paver into place, and tap with a rubber mallet to settle it firmly into the sand. Add or remove a little sand under each paver, if necessary, to maintain a level surface.
How much sand should I use for a driveway?
A walk or patio requires a 4-inch layer of compacted paver base, while a driveway needs a 12-inch layer. An additional 1- to 1 1/2-inch layer of sand, plus the height of the pavers will determine the final depth of the excavation. Some paver manufacturers recommend a 1/2-inch layer of sand when installing their products.
How long does a paver patio last?
Properly installed and compacted in layers over bare soil, a paver patio, walk or driveway can last for years, with only an occasional addition of sand to fill the crevices between the pavers.
Can you lay sand on pavers?
A fine grade of sand, such as joint or play sand, or rock dust is not suitable for laying pavers. The finer particles will pack down over time and may shift when compressed, which may affect the pavers and make the patio or walk uneven. Get the Best Mortgage Rate for You | SmartAsset.com.