You do not need to be a staunch believer of NATUROPATHY to decide that you need to build a paver stone patio to create more useable space in your home. It undoubtedly feels great to step out into a stone paved patio early in the morning with mist and aroma filled air making the rounds. However, this is not the only reason that you should go on to build paver stone patio in your backyard. Building a paver stone patio promises a whole world of benefits to you and that has to do as much with the aesthetics as with durability, economy and even maintenance (paver stone patios do not need much of maintenance).
Installing a paver stone patio might pose a challenge, but if you make an effort to build paver stone patio in your yard, you will be happy with the end-result. The paving stone patio will withstand harsh natural processes like snowfall and even earthquakes to last you a lifetime and that with the least of maintenance!
Paving Stones For Your Patio
Paving stones are stones used to pave an area. Nothing can really match the timeless beauty of natural stones and you can choose anything — right from cobblestone to flagstone, granite, limestone, sandstone, in fact, any natural stone that is strong, crack/scratch resistant and quite low on water absorption to create some really eye-catching designs for your patio.
Building a natural paving stone patio will prove advantageous on another head. Each stone in a stone-paved patio is lapped in fine sand-envelops. This sand-envelop provides the stone a cushion, a stable base while allowing it enough flexibility to accommodate seasonal temperature variations. As such, paver stone patios hardly show any cracks. And even if a crack or two shows up, the repair work will not be all that troublesome. Replacing a stone or two will help. Considering these benefits, it will really be wise to build paver stone patio.
As for patio designs, you can really create magic with paving stones. Actually, the wide assortment of colors, shapes and textures paving stones are available allows you to experiment with designs. Thus, for instance, you can choose rived or split-stones to evoke a rustic-feel and use polished, shapely stones to bring about a sophisticated-look. When you are landscaping a ranch style house , your paver stone patio is surely going to impart a vibrancy to the environs.
How To Build A Paver Stone Patio?
Only a solid base can help you build a long-lasting patio, regardless of whether you go for a stone-laid patio or a concrete patio. So, you will have to start with digging up the area. Once the area has been leveled out, spread base material on the entire expanse. Class II gravel with approved percentage of large ¾”, medium, small and fine gravel material will give the base solidity. Tamp and press the granular surface by using plate compactor.
With the base ready, you will now need to set the sand bed. One-inch deep sand bed will be enough (you will have to use sharp-edged sand). Now, arrange the paving stones on the sand bed in the desired pattern and confine the paver stones within the perimeter using aluminum, concrete, PVC or pressure-treated wood. Pound the paving stones into the sand bed with the help of a compressor and they will drop by about 3/8”.
Now that the stones are properly set in, fill the joints with sand. (Remember, you will have to choose irregular sharp sand that quickly sets in and acts as the interlock between the stones). Shove in the paving stones once again with the help of a vibrating plate compacter. More sand will go into the joints, creating a smoothed out, dense surface.
Hose down the surface and clean up all the mess. Congratulations! You have been successful to build paver stone patio.