🖼️
The project:
I transformed a tired backyard side access and patio area into a new limestone-paved outdoor space, doing most of the work myself over several weekends. The project included excavation, geotextile, compacted roadbase, laser-set levels, bedding sand, careful drainage planning and custom cuts around existing services, a gate post footing and concrete edges. I used 600 x 400 x 30mm Oryx limestone pavers and spent a lot of time getting the falls right so water moved away from the house.
The most satisfying part was setting out the long side path so it stayed straight, tied neatly into the patio and still worked around all the real-life site constraints.
- Materials:
Paving
- Oryx limestone pavers, A grade
- Size:Â 600 x 400 x 30mm
- Ordered quantity: about 62m2 (roughly 260 pieces) to cover cuts and waste
- Final paving layout based on 3 pavers across the width in the side path:
3 x 600mm + 2 x 3mm joints = 1806mm finished paved width
Base and bedding
- Compacted roadbase under all paved areas
- Geotextile / landscape fabric under the base where required
- Coarse river sand for bedding under the pavers
- Bedding thickness target:
- about 20–25mm screeded over normal roadbase
- about 15–20mm over existing concrete apron sections
Jointing
- 3mm spacers
- Jointing sand planned/finalised as either:
- plain paver sand, or
- natural-stone-safe polymeric sand
(I discussed both options because the pavers are limestone and I wanted to avoid haze/staining)
Edge restraint
- 20kg high-strength concrete bags for edge restraint / haunching on exposed edges
Drainage and service-related materials worked around / used in adjacent paving areas
- Existing stormwater and service penetrations were retained and worked around
- Geofabric and drainage considerations were built into the layout
- Existing concrete edges, aprons, slab edges and post footings were treated as fixed site constraints
Set-out and layout items
- Bright bricklayer’s line / mason’s line
- Stakes / screws for stringline control
- 3mm cross spacers
- Screed rails made from 25NB x 2.16m galvanised pipe
- Straight screed plank / long board
- Tools:
- CPI Compact 3DG 3 x 360° green beam line laser
- Tape measure
- Bright string line / bricklayer’s line
- Stakes / screws for stringline
- 40kg plate compactor
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
- Rake
- Hammer
- Long screed plank / straightedge
- Spirit level / Stanley level
- Rubber mallet
- Buckets
- Spacer pack (3mm cross spacers)
- 400mm electric brick/block saw hired for the limestone cuts
- Broom
- Hand tools for trimming and local adjustments around edges and obstructions
- Step 1:
Planned the levels, layout and drainage
I started by setting out the full patio and side path area and working out the finished paving heights. I used a 3 x 360° laser level to check the fall across the patio and along the long side path, making sure water would move away from the house. I also planned around the existing concrete edges, stormwater, service penetrations and gate area before digging.
- Step 2:
Excavated and built the base
I removed the old uneven ground and excavated around the real site constraints rather than trying to force a perfect square layout. I laid geotextile fabric where needed, then built up the area with compacted roadbase. I compacted in stages and kept checking with the laser and straightedge so the base was firm, even and ready for paving.
- Step 3:
Screeded and laid the pavers
I used coarse river sand as the bedding layer and screeded small sections at a time using galvanised pipe screed rails and a straight board. The side path was set out using three 600mm pavers across the width with 3mm joints, giving a finished paved width of about 1806mm. I then laid the 600 x 400 x 30mm Oryx limestone pavers, checking the lines, levels and falls as I went.
- Step 4:
Once the main paving was laid, I came back to the edges, posts, services and gate area. I hired a 400mm electric brick/block saw for the limestone cuts, then finished exposed edges with concrete restraint / haunching. After sweeping and preparing the joints, the project turned a tired, uneven backyard access into a clean limestone patio and practical side path.
- Step 5:
