Laying patio pavers in your backyard is an easy and cost-effective way to personalize your backyard. In order to lay patio pavers on dirt correctly, you must first ensure that the ground that you are working on is flat and void of any obstructions. Ordering a truckload of Virginia fill dirt to distribute around your backyard is the safest way to make sure that the ground is level.
Steps to Laying Patio Pavers On Dirt
If you are ready to take on a new DIY project for your backyard, it is important that you understand all of the steps before starting. Follow these 8 easy steps on how to lay patio pavers on dirt in your backyard.
1. Remove Any Grass
The first step to laying down patio pavers on dirt is to make sure there is no grass or other foliage in your way. When removing grass, it is very important that you use a spade and dig deep enough into the ground to remove the grass and its root system. You do not want to leave any roots behind, because they could potentially produce new grass in the future that would grow up between the pavers. There is also no need to waste the grass that you are removing, as you can transplant the grass to the bare areas of your yard.
2. Level The Ground With Fill Dirt
To make sure that all of your patio pavers line up perfectly, you need to be placing them on top of level land. To level your land, you are going to want to use clean fill dirt. The words “Clean” and “Dirt” sound like they should not go together, but in this case, it is very important that they do. Clean Virginia fill dirt is dirt that does not contain toxins, organic matter, or large debris. Fill dirt is primarily used for construction purposes such as building foundations or projects that require land grading. If topsoil is used for foundations or land leveling, the project will not be successful because topsoil contains organic matter that breaks down over time. This will result in the volume of the topsoil changing, which could then potentially cause any foundations on top to shift. This is also a problem when it comes to leveling land because if you are trying to fill a low point, the low point may be initially filled to be level with the rest of the land, but over time the changing volume of the topsoil will result in the low point returning. Low points will lead to your patio pavers sitting unevenly.
The presence of organic matter is also why you can not just use dirt from another part of your yard. You have no way of knowing whether that dirt contains organic matter or not, which means that you cannot guarantee its ability to create a permanent level grade to your yard. By getting fill dirt from a reputable Virginia fill dirt contractor, you are getting dirt that has been screened and certified to ensure that it does not contain any organic matter, toxins, or large debris. Taking the time to establish a lasting, level base is going to help ensure that you are building a patio that is going to be able to stand the test of time (as well as properly drain water) and not just look nice for a year.
3. Mark The Area
Next, you want to mark out the parameters of the area you are going to be grading using stakes. Once the stakes are in place, you need to decide what height you are going to consider “level”. Most of the time it is easier to build up the ground than it is to have to dig and worry about removing dirt, especially because you are going to have to add dirt anyway. Find a spot within your parameters that you are going to build up the rest of the area to match and mark it with a stake. Once you have decided what height you want to build up to, you want to use your Virginia fill dirt so that all areas within the parameters reach that height. Placing the fill dirt is relatively simple, you just have to pack down the dirt after to ensure that it will not move anywhere you do not want it to. You will probably want to add a little extra fill dirt to make it slightly higher because once you compact the dirt you will find suddenly that the area is just a smidge too low to reach your level point.
4. Compact The Fill Dirt
Once you have leveled the entire area where your patio is going to be, you are going to want to lay down another thin layer of Virginia fill dirt. Using a tool like a hand tamper, you want to pound over the exposed soil so that the ground is tightly compacted and level. The more force you can apply, the better. The more compacted your fill dirt is, the more stable it will be for the patio pavers. This step is necessary to create a foundation that is sturdy and stable and will keep your patio in place for years to come.
5. Place Down Geotextile Fabric
It is important to place down pieces of landscaping or geotextile fabric over your fill dirt to firm up the base, improve drainage, and to deter weeds from growing between the bricks. You can secure down the edges of the fabric with spikes so that they do not show. Do not skip this step, as any precaution you can take against preventing weeds is worth it to ensure that you have a long-lasting patio.
6. Add Edge Restraints
Using wood or metal edge restraints, place them against the inner walls of the compacted fill dirt. You can fasten the restraints down with 9-inch nail spikes through the edging holes.
7. Lay Down The Patio Pavers
Place down the patio pavers in whatever pattern you desire. Regardless of what the pattern looks like, the most important thing is to ensure that the patio pavers are flush against each other. Start laying down the pavers at one end or corner and then work your way across. After you have completed a small section, place a wood board across of it and gently hit it with a hammer to embed the bricks in the dirt and level them with each other. Continue until you have laid all of the patio pavers.
8. Add Stone Dust
The final step is to pour stone dust over your patio pavers and then sweep it between the small crevices. Next, you want to moisten the bricks and repeat pouring the stone dust and sweeping it into the crevices. The dust will help to fill in the tiny spaces that are left between your pavers and act as another barrier against weeds.
Speak to a Virginia Fill Dirt Contractor
If you plan to tackle this project by yourself, you will need a fill dirt supplier to receive the materials needed for the project. To learn more about how to lay patio pavers on dirt or to order your Virginia fill dirt for your project, reach out to a Virginia fill dirt contractor at Dirt connections. They can provide you with more information and let you know how you can get your fill dirt for free.
