How to Install Pavers on a Curve

Used curved pavers to create intricate patterns on a surface.

Before breaking ground, decide on the degree of the curve so you can determine whether the pavers will need to be cut to fit.

1. Make a basic scale drawing of your yard including features such as trees and gardens. Draw the outline of the patio or the course of a 4-foot-wide walkway.

2. Lay two ropes along the borders of the site in your yard. Use your drawing as a guide for where to place the ropes. Walk through the ropes and adjust the curve as needed.

3. Cut into the outlined perimeter with a spade. Excavate 6 inches from the site with a shovel until the ground is level. Go over the ground with a hand tamper to compress the dirt.

4. Place flexible edge restraints against the inside borders. Secure the strips in place with 9-inch nail spikes.

5. Fill the area with 4 inches of ¾-inch aggregate and compact it with the hand tamper.

6. Spread 1 inch of coarse-sand bedding over the aggregate base.

7. Set the pavers in rows according to your pattern. Begin at the broadest side of the curve. Place them against the edge restraints, leaving no more than ¼ inch between the pavers. The inner corners of the pavers will touch adjacent pavers while the gaps between the outer corners will be larger as they form the curve.

8. Continue to set the pavers in rows until the surface is complete. Lay a board across each section of pavers and step on it to apply pressure. The pressure embeds the pavers into the sand and levels them.

9. Use chalk to draw a straight-cut line over any pavers that need to be cut to fit tight curves. Chisel a score line over the chalk line with a hammer and cold chisel until you can snap the paver apart -- or slowly feed the paver into a masonry blade to cleanly cut along the chalk line. Cut pavers into triangular shapes to fit them into any large gaps between whole pavers.

10. Fill all gaps between the pavers with fine masonry sand. The sand will pad them from each other and prevent them from rotating out of position.