STAY SAFE: WHAT YOU’LL NEED GETTING STARTED

Make sure you wear the Take this into store with you to make Plan the job
appropriate safety gear sure you get everything in one trip.
S elect your preferred paver ensuring it is suitable
when using tools and For this project the following

HOW TO LAY
for your job. Remember, there will be some material
machinery; ear muffs, materials and equipment are required: loss in cutting and this needs to be accounted for in

PAVING
estimating.
sturdy footwear, goggles MATERIALS: NOTE: Paver number per m² is based on an average
and a dust mask should be joint size of 3mm.
Pavers
the minimum requirement. Quantity dependent on size of pavers
 etermine and mark the final level, considering
D
runoff from buildings, downpipes and adjacent
If using an electric power Granular fill for the base course sections. To avoid “ponding” allow a slope of between
15 and 30mm per metre for good runoff.
General All Purpose 7mm (GAP7) for walkway areas,
tool always use a residual General All Purpose 40mm (GAP40) for driveways
Choose a laying pattern
current device to prevent Bedding sand
 5° Herringbone - Recommended for vehicle use with
4
shock.

Clean, well graded and preferably river sand,
No1 or No3 the main axis aligned with traffic direction.
Joint sand Stretcherbond.
Pave Sand™, Pavelock®, River Sand No1 or Pave Fill Basketweave.
PVC pipes It’s important to think about the laying pattern you
want as this is just as important as the choice of
NOTE: The colour of concrete products can vary colour, size and texture. Patterns and fixed edging
Stylish patios and paths. Strong, between batches, so obtain all the pavers you’ll need create the strength in your path or driveway. They
for your project from one supplier in one order. If
long lasting driveways. your paving projects will use more than one pallet of
prevent paving becoming loose and spreading;
particularly on driveways where vehicles are turning
Good-looking, safe pool and pavers, “mix and match” from each pallet to ensure a and tyres put strain on the individual pavers.
spa surrounds. uniform mix of colours. 
Calculating the excavation depth
Paving is a convenient, affordable TOOLS:
T he paved area will need excavation to the combined
way to add value to your home. total depth of your pavers, compacted bedding sand
Cobble cutter, diamond saw or a layer (20 to 30mm) and compacted base course layer
The combinations of shape, pattern circular saw with a masonry blade (if required).
and colour available make paving - to cut the pavers
T o calculate this depth, excavate a representative area
an attractive choice for both new Runners and straight edge - to expose the sub-grade, and do the “heel test”.
to screed the sand
homes and improvements to existing
Wheelbarrow Table 1: Heel test, to determine base course
homes. With a little planning and requirement
Rubber mallet
preparation, even large areas can be
Plate compactor Sub grade
paved to a high standard by the conditions
Weak Medium Strong
DIY enthusiast. Safety glasses and hearing protectors
Heel Test Walking Heel test Heel test
Limitation of Liability Stakes and string line
And remember, if you have any This project planner has been produced to provide basic information
leaves strong
impression
leaves
impression
and walking
leaves no
Gloves
questions about your paving project, and our experienced staff are available to answer any questions you
may have. Because this planner is general in nature, neither your
impression
Level
talk to a staff member at your local Mitre 10 supplier nor their staff are responsible for the application
of these design principles in any particular case, as the contents of
Driveways - Layer of Layer of Layer of
Tape measure light vehicle granular granular granular
Mitre 10 store.
Get all the help you need
this brochure may need to be modified for the particular site and traffic base material base material base material
circumstances. Shovel 175mm deep 125mm deep 75mm deep
online at
Mitre 10 is not responsible for the quality of work carried out on
the goods by the consumer and is not responsible for the design or Pedestrian Layer of Layer of No granular
mitre10.co.nz/easyas
construction of any structure in which the goods are incorporated.
use only granular granular base material
Where applicable consumers should ensure that they comply with
The New Zealand Building Code and/or Local Body Bylaws in respect base material base material required
of any such structures. 125mm deep 50mm deep
Consumers are advised to call a qualified tradesman such as a builder,
electrician or plumber where expert services are required. NOTE: The maximum aggregate size should be less
Mitre 10 will not be liable for any consequential loss howsoever than 1/3 the depth of the required base course. So if
arising from the use of goods sold, nor for any loss caused by
defective or inadequate structures in which goods are incorporated.
100mm layer of base course material is required, use
gravel with a maximum aggregate size of 33mm. This
For more Easy As Guides visit mitre10.co.nz will allow better compaction of individual layers. On a
 BASE COURSE PREPARE THE COMPACT THE
very weak clay subgrade a geotextile fabric will prevent
clay from pushing up into the base material.
From the results of the heel test and the thickness of
your pavers, calculate the required excavation depth. PREPARATION SAND BASE PAVERS
Table 2: Calculation of excavation depth If the heel test indicated you need a base course,  edding sand provides support for the pavers, but will
B F or smaller areas use a rubber mallet to compact.
(example only) lay this next. It should comprise granular material not hide irregularities in the base course or sub-grade. For larger areas use a plate compactor, available
with hard durable particles free from organic It should be well-graded and damp, but not wet. from most hire centres. However, do not use a plate
Dimension material. The maximum aggregate size of the compactor on large paving or flagstones as it could
Item  nly spread enough sand for the pavers you’ll lay
O
(example only) material should be no more than 1/3 the thickness cause them to break. Courtyard Flagstones, Grass
in one session. Store sand for later use in a covered
Paver thickness 50mm of the layer. Lay the base course in layers of no pile to maintain its moisture level. Use runners Pavers and Gobi Blocks should also be compacted
more than 100mm and compact to a uniform dense and a straight edge to aid screeding. The final with a rubber mallet rather than with a compacter.
Depth of compacted sand layer 30mm condition, especially around manholes and kerbs. compacted sand depth once the pavers are laid  nce the pavers are compacted, sweep dry joint sand
O
should be 30mm. You will generally need to start (following the instructions on the bag) into the joints.
Depth of compacted base course layer 100mm
with between 5 and 10mm more than the desired Go over with a plate vibrator again and repeat the
Total excavation depth 180mm sand thickness. process until all joints are filled. Do not vibrate pavers
that are more than 450mm x 450mm as it may cause
them to crack.

SUB-GRADE
 rass Pavers and Gobi Blocks don’t require jointing
G
sand. Once compacted into place by the rubber

PREPARATION mallet, spread topsoil and sow grass seed or, for a
different look, fill the voids with decorative pebbles.

 emove all top soil and excavate to the required

R
depth. If the excavated surface (sub-grade) requires
filling to reach the desired level, use existing organic-
FINISHING TOUCHES
free material if available. Fill in compacted layers of
no more than 100mm, and compact using a plate J oints in pavements with a high traffic volume will
compactor or rammer. The finished subgrade should seal quite quickly and little further maintenance will
match the exact contour chosen for the final paving, be necessary. For areas such as patios or paths where
within a tolerance of +0 to -20mm at any point. pavers may be vacuum cleaned or washed regularly,

LAY THE PAVERS joints may need periodic topping up.

L ay the pavers in the chosen pattern, starting from

the straightest convenient edge. If you are working
on a sloping site then lay pavers up hill. Avoid Mitre 10 Handy Hints:
laying downhill if possible. • To maintain a just laid look, a variety of sealers
 aintaining a nominal joint of 3mm between pavers
M are available. Unsealed paving will naturally
is essential to allow sand penetration and paving weather, making colours appear less intense.

EDGE RESTRAINTS
performance.
If you need to cut pavers for edge filling, use a
concrete saw or paving splitter (available from hire
E dge restraints add strength by preventing sideways centres) or a bolster chisel for smaller areas.
movement of pavers. Where present, existing paths
 eep vehicles off the paved area until complete and
K
or structures will suffice.
if a loaded wheelbarrow has to cross it, lay timber
 n alternative to these is “haunching”, where
A running boards.
the outer pavers are held by concrete starting
approximately half way down the side of the pavers
and angled down-wards at 45° to a further depth of
100mm.

Mitre 10 Handy Hints:

• Add interest to your paving by laying a “soldier
course” and/or “chaser course”. A chaser course
is a row of pavers, usually of a contrasting
colour, laid in the opposite direction
Mitre 10 Handy Hints: immediately inside the soldier course.
• It’s useful to make a scaled drawing of the • Remember to consider drainage. Make sure
area you are paving using graph paper to that the area to be paved slopes away from the
sketch the design you want. house to ensure proper drainage.