How to Build a Parking Pad With Pavers
To build a parking pad with paver stones or brick requires not only advance planning, but a good idea for how you want the finished product to appear. It's necessary to properly measure the area that is to be paved, then level it and give the area the proper substrate.
All these steps combine to produce an attractive parking pad that will be resistant to cracking or settling.
Things You Will Need
- Spray paint
- Measuring tape
- Shovel or skid loader
- Mechanical soil compactor
- Paver base gravel
- Paver base sand
- Framing level
- Fine-grain play sand
- Push broom
Tip
Use brick or concrete pavers rather than stone to ensure proper fit of the pavers as well as provide for a durable surface on which to park.
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Measure the area to be paved using a tape measure, then mark the boundaries of the parking pad with spray paint.
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Excavate the dirt from the parking pad using a skid loader or shovel. You must dig to a depth of at least 18 inches for a solid base. Eight inches of the base will be paver base gravel, and another 7 inches will consist of paver base sand. The remaining amount consists of the paver itself. Adjust this depth according to the thickness of your pavers.
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Unload the paver base gravel into the excavation and spread the gravel out to evenly cover the hole. Use a framing level or a long board to ensure that there are no high or low spots.
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Tamp down the gravel firmly using a mechanical soil compactor. Make several passes to ensure that the gravel is firmly in place.
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Unload the paver base sand into the excavation on top of the gravel. Using the same method as with the gravel, evenly distribute the sand over the gravel base, then use the soil compactor to firmly tamp down the sand in place. At this stage, take a measurement from the top of the sand base to the ground level. If the measurement is so low that the pavers will be below ground level, add additional sand to the excavation and repeat the tamping process. The pavers should be at ground level or marginally higher when they are placed.
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Install the pavers on the sand base in whatever pattern you wish. When the pavers have been placed, empty a bag of fine sand such as play sand onto the pavers and sweep it with a push broom between any existing cracks between the pavers to lock them in place.
The Drip Cap
- To build a parking pad with paver stones or brick requires not only advance planning, but a good idea for how you want the finished product to appear.
- Unload the paver base gravel into the excavation and spread the gravel out to evenly cover the hole.
- Tamp down the gravel firmly using a mechanical soil compactor.
- Make several passes to ensure that the gravel is firmly in place.
- If the measurement is so low that the pavers will be below ground level, add additional sand to the excavation and repeat the tamping process.
References
- "The Art & Craft of Stonework: Dry-Stacking, Mortaring, Paving, Carving, Gardenscaping"; David Reed; 2003
- "Driveways, Paths and Patios: A Complete Guide to Design, Management and Construction"; Tony McCormack; 2006
- "Patios, Driveways, and Plazas: The Pattern Language of Concrete Pavers"; David Smith; 2002
Writer Bio
Don Kress began writing professionally in 2006, specializing in automotive technology for various websites. An Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician since 2003, he has worked as a painter and currently owns his own automotive service business in Georgia. Kress attended the University of Akron, Ohio, earning an associate degree in business management in 2000.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
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