Time: 2-3 days (Will vary depending on paving design, size and preparation required) | Tools Needed: Level, Stringlines, Saw, Spade, Rake, Wheelbarrow, Plate Compactor, Angle Grinder with diamond blade (or brick cutter), Mallet, Block Chisel, Toolbelt with small tools (tape measure, hammer, pencil, rulers, squares, etc), Runners/Pipe, Safety Equipment | Materials: Pavers, Timber Edging and Pegs, Concrete, Basecourse, Bedding Sand, Pavelock, Sealer

Ever since I first laid pavers, I have been a big fan of this DIY task. Not only is it extremely rewarding, but you end up with a practical and good looking space you can use and enjoy! Whether it be for outdoor living spaces, pathways or to keep your feet dry when you hang out the washing.

Firth has a wide range of finishes and sizes to choose from, allowing you to customise your paved space to tie in with your existing colour scheme or add your own design flavour. We chose to use a combination of the Forum Paver (400x400mm) and the Piazza Paver (400x200mm) form Firth’s Designer Series. Using the same finish for both, Milford Sound. We wanted to add some pattern to our paving layout, but being mindful of not making it too difficult or using a pattern requiring lots of cut pavers. With the built in spacing lugs, 2 of the Piazza pavers are an exact fit for the larger Forum paver, allowing us to easily interchange the pavers to achieve our design.  

Watch our HOW TO video to find out the key steps involved to see how you can DIY a paved area for yourself.

1. Plan and Prepare. Make a plan, understand the process and specifics for your site, and arrange materials to complete the project. 

2. Excavate and Edging. Set out your area to be paved, excavate to required depths and install border edging where required.

3. Basecourse. Install and compact layers to get a solid base for your pavers and avoid movement.

4. Bedding Sand / Top course. Add your bedding sand, or top course, for your pavers to sit in.

5. Lay Pavers. From your setout point, lay your patterns in desired pattern. Making cuts where required.

6. Compact Pavers. Compact pavers to make sure they are bedded down and won’t move. Then fill the joints to lock in place.

7. Finishing. Clean up your pavers, backfill around pavers where require, apply sealer. Now, Enjoy.

This blog was sponsored by Firth. Having been around for 90 years, they have been making and supplying quality concrete products in NZ, becoming one of New Zealand’s best known and most trusted trade names.