How to Use Paver Base as an Outdoor Surface

Want to make your yard more attractive, functional and accessible for entertaining? Add hardscaping like walkways and patios — it’s simple to do with paver base! 

This post is sponsored by Pavestone.

Dividing your yard into designated areas helps your friends and family to know where to go and better enjoy the outdoors. 

For instance, a dedicated space for a barbecue grill prevents smoke from bothering guests in a seating area. Separating a fire pit from the main patio creates a secluded romantic space.

Creating these designated spaces isn’t difficult or expensive when you use paver base. This material is visually pleasing and outperforms gravel because of its size. Keep reading to learn more.

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What is Paver Base?

Paver base is a crushed gravel mixture that often provides a solid foundation for interlocking pavers. However, this mixture needs no other building materials and works well on its own as an outdoor surface. 

Homeowners like that paver base is less permanent than concrete because if you change your mind about the layout of your walkways, you won’t need a jackhammer to remove or reconfigure it.

The size of the aggregate usually ranges from three-quarters of an inch down to dust, so the material locks together when compressed, unlike larger stones such as gravel.

You can purchase Pavestone paver base by bag or in bulk. Crushed limestone is the most commonly used stone for this application, but the product’s material and color may vary by region.

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Materials You’ll Need

• Pavestone paver base (Amount depends on project size. See Pavestone’s materials calculator before purchasing.)
• Fiber cement siding
• 1-by-4 treated wood board (for stakes)
• Circular saw
• Drill
• Coated deck screws
• Marking paint
• Shovel
• Tamp 

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1. Create the Forms

To use paver base as a stand-alone outdoor surface, you’ll need to create forms to contain it.

Since these forms will remain in the landscape, we’re using fiber cement siding — it’s flexible, durable and withstands the elements.

Cut 8-inch lap siding boards in half to create 4-inch form boards.

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2. Outline Area

Use non-toxic marking paint to outline the space you want to create. Dig a small trench 2 to 4 inches deep along each line.

Important: Before you dig into your yard, always call 811 — the national “call before you dig” number — to ensure that any work won’t disrupt buried utility lines.

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3. Insert the Form Boards

Insert the form boards into these trenches and stake every few feet to hold them in place and keep them vertical.

Use a treated 1-by-4 for the stakes and drive them down into the soil on the inside of the forms, so they’re not visible when the project is complete.

The stakes should be an inch or two below the top of the forms before you attach them to the fiber cement with coated deck screws.

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4. Compact the Soil

Depending on the terrain, you may need to excavate a little — or a lot — of dirt from within the forms.

Compact the soil within the forms using a tamp before you begin spreading the paver base out in the space. The goal is to fill the forms to the top so that the only part of them that is visible is the narrow top edge.

After you compact the base with the tamp, you may need to add more material to keep the surface at this level.

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5. Lay the Paver Base

Once the soil inside the forms is at the appropriate height, spread the paver base until it reaches the tops of the forms.

The finished outdoor surface will be hard, stable and won’t spread into the landscape because it’s packed tightly together.

Watch the video for details, and find more ways to improve your home with pavers at Pavestone.com. 

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Further Reading

• Laying Paver Patio Makes a Great DIY Project
• Polymer Based Sand for Locking Patio Pavers in Place
• High-End Patio Seating: How to Create Chairs with Pavers