Replacing Concrete Patios: Installing Pavers For A New Look

Concrete patios are common in older homes, but they can crack and crumble over time. If you're looking to replace your concrete patio with pavers, there are a few steps you need to follow. First, you'll need to remove the existing concrete. This can be done using a concrete cutting saw and a jackhammer. Once the concrete is removed, you'll need to excavate the area to accommodate your gravel base, bedding material, and paving stones. Then, you can lay down your base of geotextile and gravel, screed your bedding layer, and lay your paving stones. Finally, you'll need to install an edge restraint and compact the entire patio. While this project can be DIY, it's recommended to hire a licensed contractor as it requires heavy machinery and can have hidden pitfalls.

Excavate the area

The first step in replacing your concrete patio with pavers is to outline the area you will be working on. Use white marking paint to mark out the excavated area. White marking paint is designed for excavation areas, and any other colour may be confused with utility lines.

Once you have marked out the area, it's time to start excavating. You can do this in two ways: the traditional method of using string lines, shovels, and pickaxes, or using an excavator and a laser transit. If you are excavating near your house, cover any glass with plywood to protect it from flying debris. You will need to excavate 7 inches below the surface to accommodate the gravel base, bedding material, and paving stones.

After you have excavated the area, it's time to start bringing in your gravel base. Before you do this, compact your subgrade to promote the longevity of your project. Lay down geotextile first, as this is an excellent preventative measure. Then, bring in your gravel base.

The next step is to tamp down the gravel. You can use a plate compactor for this, but check the ratings first. Most smaller plate compactors can handle 2-inch lifts, but you may need a larger one for your project. Once you have tamped down the gravel, you are ready to move on to the next step of laying your bedding layer.

Remove existing concrete

Before you begin removing your concrete patio, it's important to check for utilities located underground. Call 811, the national call-before-you-dig phone number, to see if there are any utility lines beneath your patio. You will need to provide the nearest cross street to your project location, the type of project, and the exact location of the concrete on your property.

It's also a good idea to check with your municipality to see if a permit is needed for concrete removal. If your patio is in your town's right-of-way, you will likely need a permit before beginning work.

If your concrete patio is unreinforced, you can use a sledgehammer to break it up. For reinforced concrete, you will need to use a jackhammer or hire a professional.

To protect your home during the removal process, cover any siding or windows near your workspace with plywood or plastic. Concrete can fly up to 50 feet when broken apart, so it's important to take the necessary precautions.

If there is an area with deep cracks, this is a good place to start, as the material will be weaker there. If there are no cracks, start at the edges, as the exposed side will be weaker than the middle.

Use a sledgehammer to break up the concrete, letting the hammer fall onto the patio rather than swinging it down, as this can cause injury. Work in a grid pattern, taking breaks after each section, and avoid placing hammer strikes too close together. You want the pieces to be small enough to lift but not so small that they turn into gravel.

As you break up the concrete, insert a pry bar under the slab to lift it slightly, making it easier to fracture and break. Clear the debris as you work, and if you encounter any mesh, cut it with bolt cutters.

Once you have removed all the concrete, use a shovel to remove any remaining gravel, being careful not to over-exert yourself. Load the debris into a wheelbarrow and roll it into a dumpster or stack it onto a hand truck.

Now that you've removed the concrete, you can start preparing the area for your new pavers.

Lay a gravel base

Laying a gravel base is a crucial step in installing patio pavers. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to lay a gravel base:

Step 1: Planning and Layout

First, you need to plan the size and layout of your patio. Mark out the area using white marking paint, ensuring that you extend the area by 6 inches on all sides to allow for the pavers and edge restraint. If you're creating a circular patio, place a stake in the centre and tie a string that is 6 inches longer than the radius of the patio. Use this string as a guide to spray a circle border.

Step 2: Excavation

Excavate the marked area by removing grass, vegetation, and soil. The depth of excavation depends on the type of traffic the pavers will receive. For pedestrian traffic, dig 7 inches below the finished grade, and for vehicular traffic, excavate 9-13 inches. Remove soil evenly, leaving a flat surface, as there is no thick layer of gravel to compensate for unevenness.

Step 3: Compaction

Use a plate compactor to tamp down the excavated soil. This step is essential to ensure a stable base for your gravel layer.

Step 4: Landscape Fabric

Add a layer of landscape fabric over the compacted soil. This fabric prevents the sand from mixing with the soil underneath. Ensure you use a non-woven, permeable fabric to allow water to drain through.

Step 5: Gravel Base

Now, you're ready to lay the gravel base. Spread a 4-inch layer of gravel across the excavation, using 3/4-inch crushed quarry rock or similar aggregate. Compact the gravel with a steel tamper or plate compactor, working in 2-inch lifts until you achieve the desired thickness. Ensure the gravel base is flat and compacted, with no bellies or rises of more than 1/8 inch.

Step 6: Sand Layer

On top of the compacted gravel base, spread a 1-inch layer of concrete sand. Use a screed board to level the sand, moving it along metal rails placed on the gravel base. Remove the rails and fill any gaps or voids with additional sand.

By following these steps, you will have a solid gravel base for your patio pavers, providing stability and ensuring proper drainage.

Screed the bedding layer

Now that you've excavated the area and laid the base of geotextile and ¾”-0 gravel, it's time to screed your bedding layer.

The bedding layer is a crucial component of your patio project, as it ensures a uniform thickness for your paving stones. For this step, you'll need something that's 1" uniform, such as "washed quarter 10" (washed concrete sand). Using a uniform 1" of this material will make the installation process easier and enhance the performance of your final product.

To achieve this uniform thickness, you can use a metal rail or ⅝” conduit with a 1” outside diameter as a guide. This will help you screed the bedding layer to a consistent depth across your entire project area.

Once you've finished screeding, you'll be ready to move on to the next step, which is laying your paving stones.

Lay the paving stones

Now that you've excavated the area and laid the base, it's time to lay the paving stones.

Before you get started, set up some stakes and string lines to ensure your paving stones are laid straight and square. For most patterns, you'll want them to look neat, and this is the best way to achieve that. Once you've done that, you can begin laying your stones.

If your concrete patio was a step down from the threshold of your house, you may need to create a step to help transition between the new patio and the inside of your house. You can do this by laying in some Chateau Wall™ blocks, gluing them to the paving stone patio, and then gluing capstones on top.

Now, lay your paving stones. You may need to cut some to size. If you are using concrete pavers, you will need to add in edge pavers or another form of patio edging material.

Once you've laid your paving stones, fill the gaps with paving sand and compact the entire patio one more time.

Frequently asked questions