How to lay bluestone pavers?

Are you on a landscaping project? Looking forward to installing bluestone pavers across the patio area? Out of all other available options, bluestone pavers turn out to be the essential paving material that is being utilised on a myriad of outdoor applications.

Whether you are designing the patio or your garden area, beautifying the swimming deck area, or designing a welcoming pathway, there are several areas that could be enhanced with the installation of the ever-attractive bluestone pavers.

In Australia homes, bluestone pavers are highly preferred by homeowners for outdoor applications because they are required to breathe in fresh air to sustain for a longer period. With the daily dose of fresh air that the pavers receive, bluestone pavers only become more beautiful with age and last for a long time. Moreover, bluestone pavers are also known for its overall stability and durability.

Bluestone Pavers Installation Guide

If you are on your own to install the bluestone pavers across the patio or exteriors of your house, you should follow a step-by-step method to achieve the best results. Alternatively, you can consider hiring an expert to do the same.

Step 1: Acquire the Materials Needed

For the installation of these pavers, you are required to obtain top-quality bluestone pavers. The amount of paving materials that you would require would depend on the total area that needs to be covered and the overall complexity of the paving project.

Bluestone pavers in Australia are mostly sold by the square foot basis. Therefore, it is imperative for you to get an idea of the total area that you need to cover and convert the same into the footage.

Important Note: You should always buy around 10-15 percent more than you would actually need to give way to damages or breakages that might occur during installation.

In addition to the bluestone pavers being the material, some additional materials that you would require for the project are:

• The base for the paver –gravel, sand, mortar, or cement
• Edge restraints
• Masonry saw
• Shovel
• Wheelbarrow
• Chisel
• String
• Hammer
• Level

Step 2: Excavation of the Property

The preparation of the given site for paver installation commences with excavation.

Once you have selected the spot for installation, make sure that it is free from all possible distractions like statues, small monuments, trees, bushes, and others.

Then, you can start digging the site. When you are excavating exterior areas like walkways, pathways, or patio sites, then it is recommended for you to dig around 4 inches of earth. For the excavation of the driveway site, you are expected to double the value to around 8 inches of excavation.

Step 3: Application of the Paver Base

You can look forward to installing bluestone pavers into beds of cement, mortar, sand, or gravel. Whatever you choose, it is advised that you should mix & prepare the base for the application. Start applying from some corner. You should apply the base around 2 inches deep into the ground.

Important Note: If you are using gravel, then you can add water to evenly spread it out. While using sand, you should refrain from using water. In case of cement or mortar, start applying from a corner and keep applying pavers as you go along.

Step 4: Layering the Pavers

Bluestone pavers are mostly bought in rectangular or squared patterns. As such, it becomes relatively simpler to lay down the same.

While laying down the pavers, it is recommended that you should lay them down one at a time in proper rows –preferably from left to right. You can make use of the level along with the strands of strings to lay the pavers in a straight line.

Some of the important tips for laying down the bluestone pavers are:

• Start the laying down process from some far corner while working your way towards the front end of the application. This would provide you with ample working space.
• Clean the bluestone pavers of any visible mark. Once the pavers are sealed, the marks cannot be removed.

Step 5: Cutting the Pavers to the Desired Size

Once layering down the pavers on the ground is complete, you will come across some pavers that are sized differently. With the help of the full-sized pavers, you can place the differently-shapes ones in position and determine the place where they are required to be cut.

Step 6: Cleaning

Once you have all the pavers in place, you can sweep over the bluestone pavers with a broom to ensure that they are free of dirt and grime. You can also look forward to removing any unsightly stains or marks on the pavers.

Step 7: Filling the Joints

Now you can start removing the edge restraints and applying sand to the pavers. Sweep over the same thoroughly to make sure that the sand has properly filled in the gaps.

Conclusion

Once all the processes are complete, it is also important to ensure proper sealing of the pavers. This is because bluestone pavers tend to be hard-wearing, weather-resistant, and slip-resistant. Therefore, they can be sealed to achieve a beautiful, shiny appearance throughout.