How to Build an Easy DIY Patio to Upgrade Your Backyard

How to Build an Easy DIY Patio to Upgrade Your Backyard The screeding will basically have already compacted the sand for you. Even though it sounds like it might be a good idea, you can’t just lay pavers on dirt or sand. Doing so will allow the pavers to move and not allow for proper drainage. You want your pavers to sit at or slightly above ground level. After you dig, use a hand tamper to compact the dirt and make a firm base. This step-by-step guide will make it easy to complete this outdoor project. Typically, pavers tend to be more expensive than concrete when it comes to patio installation. An important factor to keep in mind is long-term maintenance. Pavers can be easily (and cheaply) replaced without specialized equipment or skills, but concrete repairs are more involved (expensive).

DIY Patio Ideas

If this wasn’t enough to convince you to opt for pavers, they are more durable, last longer, and are easy to switch around for a design refresh. Once you have marked out the area, it's time to start excavating. You will need to dig several inches into the ground, removing all weeds, grass, roots, and topsoil. The depth of your excavation will depend on whether you want your patio to be level with the ground or raised. For a raised patio, dig 4 inches (about 10 cm) deep, and for a level patio, dig 8 inches (20.3 cm) deep. Make sure you also dig down past the topsoil to reach a level that is stable and well-compacted.

Place the Edges

To level the gravel, spread a third and final layer of gravel, 1-1/2 in. Pull out the pipes and fill the trenches with gravel, using a trowel to level it with the surrounding gravel. This patio costs about as much as a premium-quality wood deck. As you add more stones, always make the edges meet flush and check the overall slope frequently, especially as you work farther from the house. Creating a beautiful DIY patio for your home means more than just setting out a few chairs and hoping for the best. But it doesn't mean spending a ton of money or time. You can easily DIY a patio by making a unique surface, creating one-of-a-kind furnishings, or going all-out on decor. Here are 36 DIY patio ideas to Click here for info help you make an outdoor space like no other.

To straighten the form, use strings along the sides of the form as a reference line.Yet another option is fieldstone, the rocks removed from the soil when land is cleared.If it’s not compacted tightly, the soil will shift and so will your pavers.

Typically this is landscape fabric, but we actually used a giant painting tarp that cost about $15. I researched first to make sure that it can in fact go under a gravel patio. We poked holes in it for drainage so that the ground beneath the patio wouldn’t harden under the patio. Spread polymeric joint sand across the surface of your patio. Use a hand tamper to settle the sand between the bricks. I could carry only one at a time, so this made the project more time consuming. You will need to leave at least a small gap between your concrete pavers to allow for expansion and contraction, but you have the option to go wider. With concrete paving stones are a minimum of 1½” thick and can be laid with large or narrow gaps. The basic steps for this DIY project are the same for each material. The cost of a DIY backyard paver patio is between $1 and $35 per square foot for the materials, with an added $10 to $20 for any hardscaping required. Before beginning a backyard patio project, gather the required tools and equipment. Laying a patio requires both precision and patience, and each of the below steps will need to be completed in turn in order to achieve a professional finish. The delivery truck dumped the pea gravel onto my driveway in a giant heap. My dad and I then shoveled the pea gravel into a wheelbarrow, wheeled it to the patio area, dumped it, and spread it out. There are certainly fancier gravel types than the pea gravel I chose if your budget allows but I loved how the pea gravel felt under my feet.