Foundations

• There are three main paver designs: rectangular, keyed and multiweave. No matter which one you choose, you need to start by excavating the outdoor space. Map out the dimensions of your patio, and then excavate the site to an approximate depth of 10 inches. On the bottom of the foundation, you will place two to six inches of gravel and tamp it firmly into place. Next, install a landscape fabric and then two inches of sand. Again, the sand must be firmly packed. The fabric above the gravel will prevent any sand from seeping down.
  
  After the site is prepped, you can begin laying out your pavers. It is best to do a trial run with the pavers before setting them in place. For example, set up your pavers next to the site and put them together like a puzzle. Once you are satisfied, transfer the pieces over a few at time.
  
  

Rectangular Pavers

• Rectangular pavers will be set in the sand the same way bricks are set. Begin by setting up an edging around the base of the site. This can be other bricks or some other material that will establish the border of the patio and provide stability so pavers do not shift. The edging can be raised a bit or flush with the pavers you will install.
  
  Make a border of pavers along the edge. These pavers can go in any direction you choose. Make sure that each brick is spaced 1/8" apart from the others. Once you are finished with one row of bricks, lay the next row right next to it. Use a mason's line to make sure that the bricks are lined up and spaced exactly. After completing a few rows, use a rubber mallet to tap the pavers into place. After completing a 4' by 4' section, use a level to make sure that none of the pavers is too high or too low in comparison to the others. If it is too high, lift the paver and take out some of the sand. If it is too low, add more sand under the paver.
  
  Once all of the pavers are laid, spread enough mason's sand to fill the joints. Use a broom to get rid of the excess sand.
  
  

Key and Mutliweave

• Laying out keyed pavers and multiweave pavers is more difficult. You will use the same foundation, but you will need to cut some of the pavers and be aware of the complexity of the pattern.
  
  For a keyed design, lay out a border of pavers as in the rectangular paver design. These precast pavers look like an octagon with a square extending from it. For the first row above the border, you will need to cut some of the octagonal pavers so that they lay flush against the square border. Install the pavers next to each other so that the square keys are pointing in opposite directions. The square on one paver should rest next to the octagon on the neighboring paver. By placing them in opposite directions, the pavers should fit perfectly together on each side. Move across the area in a diagonal fashion until all of the pavers are installed. You may need to cut some pavers to get them to fit at the ends.
  
  Finish by sweeping sand on the surface to fill the joints.
  
  The process will be the same for the multiweave design. Multiweave pavers will create a woven-basket effect on the floor of the patio. As one multiweave paver points upward, the next multiweave paver will be placed next to it pointing in the opposite direction. This design will keep repeating to create an interlocked design. As in the keyed design, the pavers will be installed in a diagonal fashion. Keep moving up and to the side, laying the pavers until you reach the end. Finish by adding the sand on top and sweeping away the excess.