Lay paving stones step-by-step

STAGE I - EXCAVATING SO-CALLED TRENCHING

The process of trenching consists of removing the top layer of the native substrate from 20-40 cm depth. If you have a small area, you can easily do it yourself. And if you do a large area, you must do it with road machines such as dozers, compactors, and crushers, which will significantly accelerate the progress of the job.

STAGE II – ALIGNMENT AND LEVELING OF BASIS

After the completion of the trenching, the compensation and the completion of the target slopes and drainage lines shall be ensured that each of the substructure layers has the same thickness in each area of the planned site. This action is known as ground leveling. It can also be done manually with a patch and a precision level, and on larger surfaces with a leveling instrument and road machines. This involves filling the holes and removing the excess ground according to the predefined elevation rows. During this phase, junctions and turnouts are being determined, but above all the shape of the road and roadside levels. Ground leveling is of key importance. Particular precision is recommended due to the future appearance of the surface and its durability.

STAGE III - SUBSTRUCTURE

A well-prepared substructure is the most important issue for the durability of the surface. It gives the upper layer a good stiffness and the distribution of forces during use. The structure of the substructure is influenced by several factors:

the type of native ground
size and type of load
groundwater status
method of drainage

In contrast, the thickness of the substructure is directly affected by the type of support and the anticipated loads to be applied to the site. In this way, paving around the house, e.g., sidewalks, will be less thick (about 20 cm) than a layer designed for vehicle traffic (about 30 cm).
The material used for the construction of the sub-structure is determined by the intensity of the loads and the ground conditions. The most common material is natural or broken aggregates, used for low loads. As they are intensified, this raw material is replaced by lean concrete or crushed stone. The substructure process itself can be divided into several stages depending on the thickness of the layer. This results in uniform compaction of the entire layer. Aggregate or other road paving material is decomposed and compacted to the recommended density. The substructure of lean concrete is carried out similarly to that of aggregates. Use low water content concrete.

STAGE IV - SUBBASE

A layer of subbase is applied to the layer of the compacted ground, consisting of a sand fraction of 0-4 mm. The subbase shall be adjusted using a patch in such a way as to obtain adequate slopes. Be sure not to exceed 5 cm of the thickness of the base and not to thicken the subbase as this layer is responsible for the proper seating of the individual paving stones and compensates for potential differences in the height of the adjacent stones. Do not lay the stones on the level of the surface. The difference in levels should be approximately 3 mm. This is related to the settling of the substructure during the compaction of the stones. As an exception, a cement-sand mixture (1:4) is used when justified.

STEP V - LAYING OF PAVING STONES

Make sure that the stones you received from the stone manufacturer match your order before laying the paving. In addition, check that the paving stones have not been damaged during transport or by any other means and that there are no holes. If in doubt, do not continue any further work and contact the manufacturer as the possibility of complaints is lost when the stones are being laid. The work begins in such a way that the layers of the subbase are not affected. Therefore, it is best to work from the edge to the center of the paving surface. For aesthetic reasons, but above all practical reasons, it is recommended to plan the selection of the stones to minimize cutting. With the progress of the work, it should be systematically checked if the outcome is consistent with the design and the accuracy of the edges and slopes received. Pay particular attention when laying the paving stones to obtain a suitable gap between adjacent paving stones. These gaps must be filled with dry sand with low granulation (0-2 mm). Slots are important – they tie neighboring stones together and force them to work together to transfer loads. The paving stones are laid manually or, in large areas, by specialized laying equipment. It is important to systematically mix the stones from at least three transport pallets. The stones you choose and the pattern you choose will also project on the surface and the noise level associated with the use of the stones in the future.

STAGE VI - COMPACTION

Make sure that the stones you received from the stone manufacturer match your order before laying the paving. In addition, check that the paving stones have not been damaged during transport or by any other means and that there are no holes. If in doubt, do not continue any further work and contact the manufacturer as the possibility of complaints is lost when the stones are being laid. The work begins in such a way that the layers of the subbase are not affected. Therefore, it is best to work from the edge to the center of the paving surface. For aesthetic reasons, but above all practical reasons, it is recommended to plan the selection of the stones to minimize cutting. With the progress of the work, it should be systematically checked if the outcome is consistent with the design and the accuracy of the edges and slopes received. Pay particular attention when laying the paving stones to obtain a suitable gap between adjacent paving stones. These gaps must be filled with dry sand with low granulation (0-2 mm). Slots are important – they tie neighboring stones together and force them to work together to transfer loads. The paving stones are laid manually or, in large areas, by specialized laying equipment. It is important to systematically mix the stones from at least three transport pallets. The stones you choose and the pattern you choose will also be reflected in the surface behavior and the noise level associated with the use of the stones in the future.