Installing Landscaping Pavers on a Walkway
Using pavers on a walkway instead of standard concrete can really make your home shine and give it that little added curb appeal. That’s the beauty of landscaping and why I love it so much: it’s those small details that turn a house from “eh” to “wow!” In this article I’m going to detail a fairly simple landscaping task that anyone can do…adding landscaping pavers to a walkway.
To get the best look, remember to keep things simple. One of the biggest design mistakes people make is going too bold and complicated with their landscaping plans. Elegant simplicity is what you should be aiming for with your landscaping pavers. That said, it is a matter of taste, so if you’re the type that likes super flashy, flamboyant designs, feel free to reflect that in your landscaping. I should also mention here that if you think installing your own pavers is too daunting a task, and your in the tri-state area, look for a Cincinnati landscaping company to give you some assistance or just do the job for you…it does make it much easier than learning this stuff from scratch. Check out the following video for a brief introduction to what will be covered in this article.
Paver Patterns
You should choose a pattern that reflects the feel you want your pavers to portray. Straight lines will be seen as more formal and structured, whereas curves will give your pavers more of an informal cottage-like feel. The best thing to do is match the feel of your pavers to that of the rest of your landscaping.
Grading the Walkway
You’ll have to grade the walkway, which means you’ll have to even it out. Most lawn are incredibly uneven, so flattening that out is essential because you don’t want your walkway to be all bumpy and uneven. The surface should be flattened to 6 – 8 inches below the surface of the surrounding landscaping. This will give you enough room to add the pavers and have them be level with the surrounding surfaces.
Edging
Once you’ve graded the area you’re going to pave you’ll need to edge it. Edging basically forms an outline for the pavers and keeps them from spreading out.
Add a Base
The next step is to add a base upon which the pavers will sit. The base is usually gravel or sand and helps the pavers from sinking into the soil and becoming uneven.
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve put down the pavers, you’ll need to spread sand over the top and then sweep it around the surface so that it drops down into the gaps between the pavers. This is like the grout for bricks and keeps the pavers together and finishes the surface so it looks even instead of having big gaps between the paving materials.
Hopefully this article gave you the information you need to get started on your own pavers. If you’re in the tri-state area and need Cincinnati lawn care, the guys over at American Landscapes should be able to help you get the job done pretty easily.
