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How to build a crazy paver wall and garden edging?

Hi,

Looking at doing a crazy paver wall/garden edge - see attached rough inspos

Fair to say I'm new to this so after some guidance with how start as I'll be literally starting from the ground up

Understand it'll take a bit of work and know how but with how good it looks willing to put in the hard yards

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated and will be keen to provide updates and final end product once done and dusted

Thanks 👍

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @darcyDIY. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about crazy paving walls.

It looks like you’ve got some great inspiration to work with. Do you have any specific questions to start? That would be really helpful for our members when providing advice. The bulk of this project will involve building a solid and stable structure for the pavers, so knowing more about your plan will help. Were you thinking of creating a freestanding wall, or perhaps something like a garden bed as shown in your inspiration images?

In general, the key steps will include preparing and compacting the ground, then building a timber frame to suit your desired structure. After that, you’ll want to clad the frame with fibrecement boards to create a suitable surface for the pavers. Once the structure is ready, you’ll break the pavers to achieve that ‘crazy’ pattern, adhere them with a strong exterior tile adhesive, and finally grout the gaps to complete the look. It's a bit of work, but with patience, the result will be well worth it.

Let me mention one of our fabulous members @EleventhCoastal, who is currently working on a crazy paving project, to see if they can share some insights. Also, here's a helpful guide: How to lay crazy paving.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

darcyDIY

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/42135#Comment_42135

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks so much for the speedy response and information

Specifically it'll be exactly like the second picture, roughly the same height and all for the garden beds/edging

Was thinking something along the lines of making a cement base/foundation with the timber frame

- would I need to make the foundation cement base and wait for it to fully dry first or would I put down the Besser blocks and base in one go? Or within a certain time period of each other?

Besser blocks and cement

- any good recommendations for cement?

and then would I attach the fibrecement boards to that? (Sorry if I've misunderstood your message)

Am I on the right track? or would I only need to do the timber frame without the Besser blocks?

Just read eleventhcoastals post and very handy tips in there so thank you again

Thank you

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/83200#Comment_83200

Hello @darcyDIY

If you are using Besser blocks, then there would be no need to use a timber frame. If you were to use a timber frame, then it would need to be covered with a fibre cement board. But because the Besser block has a rough cementitious surface there is no need to cover it with fibre cement.

I propose looking at the Besser block set from Brighton Masonry or Adbri Masonry. For the cement, I suggest standard concrete mix, please make sure not to get the quick drying set as they have a small window of usability.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide:

Brick laying 101 (the techniques used are applicable to your project)
How to Build a Retaining Wall

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

darcyDIY

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/106472#Comment_106472

Hi,

Fantastic thank you very much

I've got to knock down a couple of trees, once that's done and dusted I'll get started on this and keep it updated

Darcy

darcyDIY

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/120449#Comment_120449

Hello, been awhile sorry

Bit of a change of plan, won't be making a new garden wall by scratch anymore but am looking to still turn this existing wall into a crazy paver look

Understandably makes it a bit hard with the surface of this wall so was thinking:

Attach 6mm thick fibre cement board straight onto the wall - will 6mm be thick enough to support the pavers?

Will I need to waterproof the fibre cement before I attach the pavers to it? If so any recommendations?

I'll be using the Travertine pavers from Bunnings which are 30mm thick and admittedly a bit heavy. Will the Davco 20kg SMP Evo tile adhesive be strong enough? Or should I use the Davco 20kg Ultraflex ceramic tile adhesive or something else? I'll be grouting in between too (Davco 15kg colorgrout)

Any other recommendations or have I missed anything? Open to all comments and advice!

Will also be giving the wall a good gurney and clean

Hope you don't mind me tagging Yas for visibility again

@EricL

@MitchellMc

Thanks

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/130129#Comment_130129

Hi @darcyDIY,

The 30mm thick travertine pavers are definitely going to be a challenge when it comes to using cement sheeting. Most fibre cement products, even at 9mm thick, aren't designed to bear the load of heavy pavers—especially vertically. They're typically made to support tile weight, not solid stone. Using 6mm sheeting would likely fail over time under the strain.

That’s why in most of the inspiration images you see online, the pavers are fixed directly to a masonry surface like brick or block. That allows for a solid backing capable of supporting the weight of the stone. If your existing wall is structurally sound, I'd suggest adhering the pavers directly to it using a high-performance adhesive.

In terms of adhesive, Davco SMP Evo is a good flexible option, but with the weight of these pavers, I'd be leaning towards Davco Ultraflex or even Ardex X18 for better hold and durability on vertical surfaces. Just make sure you get good coverage on both the wall and the back of each paver.

You also asked about waterproofing—since it's an exterior retaining wall and subject to moisture, it’s a good idea to use a suitable waterproofing membrane adhering to the stone, but only if you’re not using a cement sheet as the base. Once again, this is going to create an issue as membranes are not designed to hold the weight you're intending. The only option I can see there is applying the membrane to the rear of the wall, but with the soil in place, that poses an issue.

Definitely a great move to give it a solid clean with the gurney first—any dust, loose paint, or dirt will affect adhesion. Once it’s clean and dry, and you’ve chosen your adhesive, just take your time with layout to make sure the pavers fit naturally.

Mitchell

darcyDIY

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/135151#Comment_135151

Appreciated as always Mitchell!

Because it's such a rough/uneven surface reckon I'd be alright to stick the pavers straight to it? Or should I give rendering the wall a go first?

Thanks

Darcy

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138490#Comment_138490

Once again, rendering the wall is just adding another layer that could fail under the weight @darcyDIY. I suspect the adhesive would bond to the wall better than what the rendering will. It might be worth doing a test piece first. Allow the adhesive to cure for a week and test to see that the paver is well attached.

Mitchell

darcyDIY

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140707#Comment_140707

Yea that makes sense, fair call that

Alright will give that a go, thanks again, very appreciated

Will keep this post updated

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