Installing Pavers 5 - Frame Borders and Lay Sand Bed

Intro - Patterns - How Much You’ll Need - Prepare Area and Base - Frame Borders and Lay Sand Bed - Lay Brick Pavers - Finishing Up

Install the Border

1. The border, or edging system, is necessary to insure that your brick paving remains firmly in place and stays beautiful for years. Begin by installing, but not anchoring, your edging. Experiment now with the pattern you’ve chosen by temporarily laying brick around the edge of the paving.
(Note that complex designs, like herringbone, may require significant amounts of cut brick.)

2. Once you’re satisfied with placement, anchor the edging by driving spikes at least 8" into the base every 2 to 3 feet. For wood edging, drill holes and drive the spikes through the middle of the wood. For brick edging, dig a trench deep enough so that the top edge of the edging brick will be flush with the brick surface of your finished project.

3. One border can remain unanchored until final brick installation to insure a tight fit. Now, remove the bricks you temporarily installed.

Lay the Sand Bed

1. For a walkway or other fairly narrow project, use 1" outside diameter pipe or cut two wood strips to the desired height of sand (1"). Place them on either side of the paving area. For a wider project, like a patio, place the strips about 3 feet apart.

2. Now, fill the area with sand. The sand can be dampened with a fine mist of water prior to installation to eliminate voids.

3. After you pour the sand, use the pipe or wood strips as rails on which to run your "screed" board to insure a uniform sand depth of 1". Be careful not to walk in or disturb the leveled sand.

4. Remove the screed rails and fill the indentations with loose sand. Level with a broom or trowel.

Intro - Patterns - How Much You’ll Need - Prepare Area and Base - Frame Borders and Lay Sand Bed - Lay Brick Pavers - Finishing Up

Courtesy of The Brick Industry Association