Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Property
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to make a stepping stone pathway

How to make a stepping stone pathway

Checkerboard your backyard with style

Checkerboard your backyard with style

How to revamp your side path and lawn

How to revamp your side path and lawn

2 brick paving patterns for driveways, pathways and courtyards

2 brick paving patterns for driveways, pathways and courtyards

{headline}

{headline}

How to perfectly pave your yard

How to perfectly pave your yard

How to replace outdoor tiles

How to replace outdoor tiles

How to make a gravel path

How to make a gravel path

{headline}

{headline}

Backyard project: Timber and gravel garden path

Backyard project: Timber and gravel garden path

Reap the health benefits from an outdoor office

Reap the health benefits from an outdoor office

Invest in your outdoor room and enjoy the benefits

Invest in your outdoor room and enjoy the benefits

How to make a sandstone garden path

How to make a sandstone garden path

How to build a paved path

How to build a paved path

How to make a stone path

How to make a stone path

How to create your own paved courtyard

How to create your own paved courtyard

  1. Home
  2. DIY

Paving 101: How to prepare ground for paving

Pave your way to success with a rock-solid foundation. - by Better Homes and Gardens
  • 19 Feb 2021

Transforming an underutilised area of your backyard into an outdoor entertaining zone begins with laying a good foundation, and paving is one budget and DIY-friendly ground-cover option to consider.

Paving 101: How to prepare ground for paving

The first step to laying pavers, however, isn’t rushing out to pick the trendiest outdoor paving stones or crazy pavers, but to properly prepare the ground using road base and paving sand. 

That’s because every good paving job begins with a good base. There are only two layers, but it’s important to compact and level them in the correct way.

Can you lay pavers directly on dirt? 

Laying pavers on unprepared soil is not recommended. While laying pavers on bare ground might look fine in the short term, over time the ground will shift, resulting in sunken and cracked pavers and, ultimately, an uneven surface. Preparing the ground properly will also prevent the growth of weeds between the pavers.

Gather your supplies

  • Road base
  • Paving sand
  • Set-out paint
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Shovel
  • Levelling rake
  • Tape measure
  • Hose
  • Plate compactor (hired)
  • Screed rails
  • Spirit level

How to prepare a good base for laying outdoor pavers

Step 1 Measure area to be paved, then mark edges using set-out paint to give you a guide.

Step 2 Use wheelbarrow to lay out road base in a series of mounds (this makes it easier to spread evenly over the whole area).

...
Phil Aynsley

Step 3 Spread out road base roughly with shovel, then level with levelling rake. Use tape measure to gauge a depth of about 70mm

...
Phil Aynsley

Step 4 Damp down road base using hose then, using plate compactor, compact base to reduce its depth by about 10mm

...
Phil Aynsley

Step 5 Lay out paving sand over road base, again in a series of mounds to facilitate even spreading.

Step 6 Level sand with rake to leave a layer 20-30mm thick.

...
Phil Aynsley

Step 7 Lay screed rails on eitherside of sand bed, so their surface sits at finished level you are after. Tip, poly tubing and lengths of timber make ideal screed rails

...
Phil Aynsley

Step 8 Level sand layer using screed and spirit level. Be sure to work backwards so you don’t disturb the finished surface.

...
Phil Aynsley
  • DIY
  • Paving Ideas
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens
Australia's favourite TV show, magazine and website.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to make a stepping stone pathway

How to make a stepping stone pathway

Checkerboard your backyard with style

Checkerboard your backyard with style

How to revamp your side path and lawn

How to revamp your side path and lawn

2 brick paving patterns for driveways, pathways and courtyards

2 brick paving patterns for driveways, pathways and courtyards

{headline}

{headline}

How to perfectly pave your yard

How to perfectly pave your yard

How to replace outdoor tiles

How to replace outdoor tiles

How to make a gravel path

How to make a gravel path

{headline}

{headline}

Backyard project: Timber and gravel garden path

Backyard project: Timber and gravel garden path

Reap the health benefits from an outdoor office

Reap the health benefits from an outdoor office

Invest in your outdoor room and enjoy the benefits

Invest in your outdoor room and enjoy the benefits

How to make a sandstone garden path

How to make a sandstone garden path

How to build a paved path

How to build a paved path

How to make a stone path

How to make a stone path

How to create your own paved courtyard

How to create your own paved courtyard

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!