How to Install Patio Stones

Patios are a beautiful addition to any house, but that doesn't mean they're wildly expensive or difficult to install. A few hundred dollars and some elbow grease can go a long way, and there's no need to hire a contractor to do a job you can do yourself.

Planning Ahead

As with any construction project, you'll want to plan the whole thing out. Measure out the area that you want to fill in with patio stones, and then pick out the type of stone. If you're looking for inspiration, look online at sites like ThisOldHouse.com for some beautiful patio ideas.

Excavating

A good rule of thumb is to dig 6-8 inches down beneath the final level of the patio and provide a buffer around 10 inches wide on all sides for a solid foundation. No buffer is needed on sides that are pressed up against your house or driveway.

Laying the Foundation

First, lay a bed of 3/4 stone and stone dust. You'll want to rent a plate compactor to pack everything in tightly so it doesn't settle later, but a hand tamper is adequate for small areas, like pathways and edges. This bed should come up to about 2 inches beneath the final level of the patio.

You can finish off the foundation with a 1-1 inch thick layer of cement. You'll want to slope the patio away from your house, which you can do by thrusting wooden posts into the ground and tying strings around the edges of the patio until you get the pitch lined up perfectly. The slope doesn't need to be significant. 1-2 inches over 5 or even 10 feet should be sufficient.

An alternative to cement is sand or stone dust. Unless you're driving a car over the patio stones, sand and stone dust should be adequate. Most homeowners appreciate how easy sand and stone dust is to manipulate. Simply take a 2x4 and smooth the sand over to the appropriate pitch and level.

Installing the Patio Stones

Here comes the hard part. You'll want a level handy to make sure that all the patio stones line up as you place them. First, set the patio stones down right outside the patio edge so they're easy to access. If your patio is against your house, start with that side first. Once a patio stone is in place, you don't want to be stepping on it, which can disturb the rest of the foundation.

Always make sure that the patio stones match up with one another. Even with a slight pitch, the stones should be nearly level. If your foundation is cement, make sure to wash off any excess cement on top of the patio stone with a hose before it dries. Allow the stones to settle for at least one day before using.

A few hundred dollars and some elbow grease can go a long way