Good morning weekend warriors, Jamin here again with another installment of our backyard bliss series. If you missed any of the earlier post you can see the beginning here as well as the others in the series: How to build a garden box and How to build handmade shutters. Today we will tackle stone how to install patio pavers and a fire pit. This really is a simple project, just a little labor intensive.
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit – What size?
Before we dive into the supply list, let’s talk about size: You will need to decide the size of your patio. We will work off a 10 foot by 10 foot example just for mathematical ease. Ours is actually larger, but this will give you an easier idea as to what you would need.
First we need to find the square footage of the patio. As a quick Jr. high math reminder (a necessary evil) the formula for square feet is: length × width. Since we know that our example patio is 10 x 10, the square feet for our patio is 100 square feet.
One more math lesson that we will need in a minute: How do you get cubic feet? (cubic feet) = (square feet) × (height in feet). You’re welcome. ;}
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit – the supply list
• Gravel : Enough for a 3 inch bed – 100 x .25 = 25 cubic feet (I’m laying 3 inches or ¼ of a foot of gravel) If, unlike here in the tropics of Alabama, you have really soft soil you might want to do a deeper base of gravel.
• Sand : Enough for a 1 ½ inch bed – 100 x .125 = 12.5 cubic feet (I’m laying 1 ½ inches or 1/8 foot of gravel) Also add 3 – 4 bags to have a little extra, and for filling in the cracks.
• Pavers : Enough for the square feet of the patio. Decide on the pattern you wish to use, ahead of time. This will depend on the size pavers you choose. Also, if you are using a fire pit you can subtract the square feet from your final total of pavers.
• Tamper
• 2 x 4 x 10 board
• Chisel
• 4 stakes
• string
• Just a little side note about supplies, you might need a little more than what you calculate. You can either buy extra upfront or if like us you live next door to a Home Depot you could just make and the extra trip. (This isn’t unusual for us. We’re usually figuring it out as we go…they may or may not know us by name.)
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit – first steps
First, you will need to stake out all 4 corners of your future patio. Once you stake the corners, run some string from corner to corner to give you your edges.
Now grab your shovel and start digging. You will need to dig out 4 ½ inches, plus the thickness of your paver. So if your paver is 1 ½ inches thick, you will need to dig out the area to a depth of 6 inches. (3 inches for gravel + 1 ½ for sand + 1 ½ for paver = 6 inches)
If you are really trying to save money, you can dig this out with a hoe and a shovel. However while I value saving money, I value getting out of bed the next morning even more (If I don’t, who will fix Ashley’s coffee?) So (highly recommended for the sake of your body and sanity) you can call your local rental store and for about $125 you can rent a mini skid steer or for even cheaper, rent a tiller like I did. I wish I would have rented the mini skid steer, so take my advice- it will be the best $125 you spend.
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit – laying the foundation
Once you have the area dugout, it is time to spread the gravel. Simply pour and rake it evenly across the patio area. Once you rake it out, use your tamper to level the surface. Simply pound the tamper into the gravel until you feel it is solid and level.
Once the gravel is semi-level, spread the sand out over the gravel. Rake it out and use the 2 x 4 to level the surface, starting at one corner and working your way to the far corner. Pour extra sand as needed.
Now you are ready to place your pavers. If you are laying them next to an existing structure or patio and trying to make them level with each other, you will want to measure to make sure your sand surface is at the correct level, so that once your pavers are placed, it will be level. If it is not, add a little more sand.
How to install patio pavers and a fire pit – laying the pavers
Begin laying your pavers starting in one corner, and working your way to the far corner. As you are laying, you may need to spread a little extra sand to keep a level surface.
I suggest you step back and check your work every 10 pavers. This will keep you from finishing only to realize you have an uneven patio. (We may or may not have had to adjust a few.)
If you are installing a fire pit as well, make sure to measure out where it will go, and build around it as you go. You may need to chisel a few pavers to make everything fit the way you want in your pattern.
If you need to chisel, simply draw a line with a pencil, then use the corner of the chisel to score the paver all the way around, by running it around the paver a few times. Place the paver on soft ground to prevent bouncing. Place the chisel on the scored line and hit with a hammer. The paver should break on the score.
Once you place all your pavers, check to make sure your patio is level. If it is not, level it by removing the uneven pavers and adding or taking away sand.
Once level, pour out a bag or two of sand over the patio. Use a stiff bristle brush push broom, and spread the sand all over the patio. It should fall in between the cracks creating more stability with a dry cement effect.
Once the cracks are filled, sweep the patio clean of the excess sand. It is also a good idea to spray it with Thompson’s multi surface waterproofer to help protect the pavers. (Follow the instructions on the can, and always test a paver first.)
Now you are ready to place your furniture, light a fire and roast some marshmallows!
This post brought to you in partnership with The Home Depot and Thompson’s Water seal. Please read our full disclosure here.
To read any of our DIY projects from this back yard overhaul, be sure to check them all out, here!
JT says
This looks like a lot of work but well worth it. Thanks for keeping it real! 🙂
Hannah says
May I please know what color you used to paint the outside paneling of your house? It is all so pretty!
JDS says
did I miss how you made the firepit. I didnt notice any layout/instructions on the fire pit.
jamin says
JDS, you simple lay those bricks/stones in place where you want them and build the pavers around them. Thus the taking out of square footage for your paver total.
Maureen U says
But how do you make a neat firepit?
jamin says
Hey, Maureen.
It is really simple, lay out the bricks on top of the paver sand in the fashion you would like. There is no cement required. I simply laid them in a square on top of each other. You can buy them in a kit at Home Depot if you need. Hope that helps.
Maureen U says
Thanks so much.
Beckie says
What do you put at the bottom of the fire pit and do you use anything to keep the blocks from being knocked down? ie: mud, mortar, etc.
Danielle says
This is so helpful as I want to do a small version of this in the summer! Thanks for taking the time to share. It turned out great.
Kim says
Very cool! Wish we could do something similar, but our city has a regulation that fire pits have to be a minimum of 20 feet from any wood structure – for us that means smack dab in the middle of our yard. So no fire pits by the house 🙁
Lisa says
Where did you get your lovely patio furniture?
jamin says
Hey Lisa! This is Ashley commenting under Jamin ;} I’m too lazy to switch to my laptop across the room. These were an old Tarjay discount find via Smith and Hawken. I refinished them a long time ago for our veranda. They may still have something similar. We will have a sources post coming up soon-we may just go ahead and do it. ;}
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
I adore your patio! I think I have said it a few times. 🙂 Great tutorial on how to do this!
kelly thompson says
so great!
Tiffini says
on word
amazing
how fun to be with the kids out there…
you guys are awesome;)
xo
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thanks sweet Tiffini! ;}
Laina says
It looks beautiful… I love the fire pit we use ours all year round, for warmth on cool or cold days, to chase away the bugs on warm summer nights, and to roast lots and lots of marshmallows. Did you all custom build the pergola? It looks really pretty. My husband works for Country Lane Woodworking here in Lancaster County, PA and they custom build those. We have one, that my husband built himself, and it just makes the yard so inviting and cozy. People ask if we are going to grow anything on ours, but I love the way it looks, all by itself. Great job, I’ll have to check back.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so much Laina! ;} Yes, they are nice, aren’t they? ;}
capturing joy with kristen duke says
oh wow, that backyard is a dream!!!
Laura S says
Hi! Loving your outdoor posts! My husband and I were just talking about how our backyard needs an overhaul. Our funds are super tight but this DIY looks doable to expand our patio. Would love to hear how much you spent on this project!? Thanks for sharing.
Kelly says
Do you happen to know the odor of your back door?? Luv the pop of color….
Amy Kallenbach says
Looks great! Do you have any type of metal container lining the inside of your firepit or do you burn the items right on the brick pavers?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Amy! No metal. Just brick and sand. Hope that helps! ;}
Bianca says
Great post! Hubs & I are getting ready to do this project in our backyard but I have one question: did you guys not use a plastic liner below the gravel??? How will you prevent weeds from springing up?
Right now we have a rock bed (of sorts) from the previous owners and it’s weed-ridden. We are going to put the patio in the same spot but want to be sure we don’t do all that work and then still have to pick weeds from in between the pavers…
jamin says
Bianca,
Some people do put down a weed control barrier below the gravel, I don’t really see the benefit. To be affective it would need to be above the sand layer used to level the stones, but even with that you still have the sand that you spread in between the stone that acts as a dry cement. Basically the chances are high that weeds can find a place to grow, but hey that’s what round up is for. 😉
Bianca says
Thanks for the advice! We’ll have to share our pics when we get it done 🙂
faroug idries says
good and easy way to do it , thanks
Sarah baker says
Hi. I really like the pagers you used and the pattern they are placed in. Would you mind ee-mailing me details?
Thanks,
Sarah
Cheap Metal says
Hi, just wanted to mention, I liked this blog post. It was inspiring.
Keep on posting!
my page Cheap Metal
Prairie Todd says
Where are you keeping your BBQ grill in the new design scheme? I see it in the before pics. I also have a big BBQ grill and am not sure how to design around it.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Prairie Todd – We actually moved it to our side porch… and have more of that (and the entire subject matter) coming up soon. ;}
Brittany says
I know you’ve gotten a lot of questions about the fire pit so I hate to add one more, but I was curious as to the size of your cement pavers? I’m hoping to lay out something similar on our back patio and I’m trying to get an idea of how many I’ll need. Thanks!
Ellen says
I’ve been looking for clear instructions on how to build a paved patio like this. Thank you! But I need another math lesson… Did you have to calculate the grade/angle/plane of the patio to ensure water would drain away from the house? That’s the only thing holding me back from going whole hog on this.
jamin says
Ellen, Yes it would be very wise to grade away from your home. You might even be able to cheat and follow the grade that is already there. If not here is a great tutorial. Hope that helps.
Jennifer says
This is excellent! Thank you! What was the total cost of this project minus the fire pit?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey! This project is a few years old,and prices will vary by size and geographical location. We recommend using our product list based on what you need, and pricing it out at your local home improvement store. ;}
Karla says
Thank you for this post! This is exactly what I want to do this spring. Yours looks beautiful! Hopefully mine turns out just as good. The steps appear fairly simple and straightforward. I will let you know how it turns out!!
Amber R says
My husband and I want to do a patio but have no clue how and this post looks like what I want! Does the gravel and sand keep the grass and weeds from growing through?!
Jamin Mills says
Hey, It will help some, but I would suggest putting down some barrier fabric to take care of it.