Brock Paver Base Pads Review & 3 years later Brick Patio Install Condition

Paver base pads: amzn.to/2woY6U1
Venmo tip jar: @AndrewDIY
Welcome to my patio, this video is more of a review of the Brock Paver Base pads than a how to video. I actually put this patio in almost 3 years ago. So this video Will cover the initial install and how they’ve held up so far.
I like these pads for several reasons. Not only does it save you time and money but it goes a lot faster and you end up with a very smooth surface to layer bricks.
They have a very clear step-by-step video of the process so I will just cover what I learned and a few tips that might help it go easier for you.
So I have some leveling sand and then I have a layer of filter fabric weed barrier and below that is compacted rocky soil the layer of sand is not that sick at all and if I went back and did this again I would’ve spent more time perfecting the grade but that has nothing to do with these pads the interlock and lay flat end it took me about two hours to do this area here which is about 15 x 20’ I made one mistake on the last panel because the interlock in a specific way so you want to pay attention while you’re doing that over the years I have not had a single problem with drainage and before I put the breaks down I was worried because it was almost a spongy feel all of that went away when I put put the breaks down and now it feels rock solid another nice thing about using the Brough pads as you don’t have to worry about sections or even one specific brick rising or settling there they all are still exactly where I put them three years ago.
I chose to do a herringbone pattern I think it looks very classy it reminds me a lot of the way the Romans in ancient Rome would stack bricks and so that’s what I was going for.
It was very enjoyable experience as far as preparing the foundation for a patio it went very smoothly and when it came time to place the bricks it was very easy because you didn’t have to concern yourself about disturbing sand you could walk wherever you need to more of you want to two so if I had to do this again I would definitely buy these pads I guess that’s the best endorsement for this product that I can give like I said the link is in the description below to where you can buy these products in our next video we will be making a small sandbox or sand pot using a large sample using a large flower pot so click subscribe if you want more videos like this I also have a patron page where you can support me make a one time donation or support me and making future videos every single part helps if you have any questions let me know in the comments section below and have a great day.

[@richie8272]

I thought they needed to be placed horizontally and vertically not just one direction as illustrated in your video? Please advise. Thanks 👍

[@AndrewDIY]

Good question! Yes, generally you should stagger them, not necessarily 90 degrees to each other, but half a panel should be set at the midway point, or even ⅓ of the way of another panel instead of all corners meeting. That prevents shifting and moving of the panels. I got away with placing them the way I did because I'm in a completely enclosed/walled area. There is nowhere for the panels to shift or move in any direction. Hope that makes sense.

[@richie8272]

@@AndrewDIY Yes! Thanks

[@troyauth9966]

I have installed a lot of paver patios & retaining walls over the years. Since I live in Minnesota where the winters are cold & the ground freezes hard & then thaws in the spring, it is typically recommended that one dig out at least 6" of soil & then replace it with a base comprised of compacted crushed rock & sand on which to lay the landscaping fabric & pavers. This is a lot of work & often requires that one own or have access to a pickup or trailer & a vehicle with a hitch for hauling grass, soil, rocks, tree roots, etc away & then hauling in crushed rock & sand for the base. Since I'm now approaching 55, I decided to give the Brock Paver Base panels I try when I saw them at Menards 3 years ago. We bought a 9-1/2ft round patio kit for our backyard so I bought enough paver base panels to create a 10ft square. All my son & I did was remove the sod from the yard with a flat edge shovel & then level it off with 1-2" of sand. We didn't do any compacting. Once the sand was level I covered it with landscaping fabric, put the baver base panels down, laid the patio bricks that came cut to size on top of the panels & put hard plastic landscape edging around the outside of the circle patio & drove plastic landscaping spikes thru the paver base panels & into the ground to hold everything in place. Then we filled the gaps between the pavers with locking sand, moistened it with water, let it dry & sealed the surface with a good wet-look sealer. Later than summer I used the panels again - for a 3 ft wide paver sidewalk from the patio to our detached garage. Everything looked wonderful that summer, but given how hard MN winters can be on stuff, I'll have to admit that I was expecting there to be some panels/pavers that would needs to be reset in the spring. The good news is that 3 winters have now passed & I still haven't had to touch a single paver! I had a friend who owns/operates a landscape business tell me that he thinks the paver base panels work so well because they insulate the ground under the pavers & keep the frost from penetrating as deep as it normally would. I have no idea if this makes sense. All I know is that anyone would be crazy to do all the work required to put a paver patio or sidewalk in the old way! These things are that good! We also have heavy clay soil in our backyard which is typically an undesirable base for pavers!

[@NickVetter]

I'm In ND and planning on building a patio. I checked them out because they seem easier but also would save me $240 on the cost.

[@coolnights4665]

I really appreciate your comment here I live in Wisconsin and am doing a long paver walkway I'm thinking I just might use them panels now thanks.

[@gregolsen1591]

Thanks so much. Minnesota here with a clay soil and so glad to hear it worked

[@kimballlewis1154]

Thank you for your comment and testimony on how well this worked for you. Quick question: you wrote that you put the landscaping fabric on top of the sand. In other tutorials, I see people lay the landscaping fabric and then put the sand on top of the fabric. Any particular reason you put the fabric on top of the sand?

[@franciscorazo3458]

Im doing a small area about 3ft×3ft. Did you dig 4-6 inches? I'm kinda confused on that part.

[@nofa1l]

This was super helpful. I had just ordered one I needed for a project and wanted to see how it works before I commit to another project. This has definitely given me the confidence and insight needed for the next project. Thanks for making such a quick and informative video.

[@voyager619sd]

I had my back yard and part of my side yard done with pavers the old way back in 2013 before these pads existed. Crew doing the work had to dig out so much dirt, bring in the base, pack it. Then the sand was leveled, pavers went in. Very time consuming. These pads look so much easier to work with. My job would have gone so much faster and easier. Very good video, thank you for sharing your results.

[@AndrewDIY]

You're welcome! It's a great product. It sure does save a lot of time & work.

[@jamestaylor8217]

Thank you. I've been considering them and your video helps.

[@VirtualRun-in-SoCal]

Thank you for sharing! It's great to see they are still perfect after 3 years.

[@PatrickWatsonstl]

Perfect just looked at them at Lowes! Thanks

[@christinenguyen2530]

Thank you. Very informative video.

[@billcruse5310]

WELL DONE!

[@AndrewDIY]

Thank you!

[@quequel6184]

I'm going for it!

[@AndrewDIY]

Been a month, have you started? Finished? How'd it go?

[@maykignacio3279]

Good job! I’m about to this on my backyard using paver base. Did you use compactor plate or just hand tamper plate? TIA

[@taragoodloe4122]

Yes this was very helpful.

[@AndrewDIY]

Thanks! Glad to hear it!

[@calmthoughtcafe]

Thank you!

[@norrischucknorris101]

How are they looking now at 6 years?

[@spta97vids97]

FYI, per instructions you are supposed to stagger the panel joints.

[@AndrewDIY]

Yes, I can see how that would be beneficial, but I guess it's a testament to the panels that I did it wrong and they are still holding up.

[@jerbsherb4391]

sorry my English is not very good, what does staggering the panel joints mean? Like style them?

[@Spta97Vids]

Jerb Sherb - meaning instead of laying them down right next to each other, you should start with half a panel at the end. That way, the joints are not all in a straight line.

[@dominicmoraca71]

@@jerbsherb4391 like laying bricks

[@lcorvette]

great video - thanks!!! What about the paver polymeric sand and the Paver restraints? Did you use these for your patio?

[@markwright9025]

Great video. Thanks for posting it. Do you have a 6 year update?

[@degenio_python]

Hello, I have slabs with each one weighting around 43 pounds, can we use the brock paver base for the installation?

[@davidseverance5431]

Can this system be used for a deck with Belgard porcelain pavers on top? build a box for the sand? or just put the brock paverbase on top of plywood?

[@kevinkim6301]

would this serve well as im thinking of doing a paver pad for the deck stairs instead of concrete pad?

[@epp]

Beautiful job! Btw I love the bricks. What brand/style are they?

[@robertjohnson3445]

I have 400 sq ft pavers in backyard, but the previous owner made some strange pattern that I don't like, and it grows moss, so I wanna pave again. My question is, can I use this on the old pavers directly?

[@indianatlarge]

my paver stones are uneven on the base and keep tilting on the brock paver base, can i apply some cement based sealant between the paver stones and the brock paver base?

[@marieroulhac]

Andrew... what depth did you excavate to? I plan to excavate to 16" so that I can lay crusted stone down as there is clay in the yard prior to doing the rest.

[@AndrewDIY]

I didn't excavate much since there were power lines etc below. Call before you dig!

[@kdeuler]

With this system, if there a maximum grade that one should stay below? I have a sloping path that i'd like to put pavers on. Thx.

[@AndrewDIY]

I can't see this being an issue, but I honestly don't know. May be worth contacting a rep on their site. Let me know what you find out!

[@SSLnRWL]

Hi, Andrew. Have an issue. I want the paver walkway to be leveled with the side of the garage driveway. Question: how much thickness allowance should be given to these pads as they are compressible to a certain extent.

[@AndrewDIY]

Great question. I didn't need to think about that at all when I installed mine, but the compression seems minimal to almost non existent. If you are driving on it I would imagine that would cause compression issues, but for bricks and general walking? I personally wouldn't worry about it IF the ground below it is compacted etc. Hope that helps!

[@jmoe6402]

We just finished installing our patio using this paver base system. I followed the directions exactly. I havent put down the locking sand yet and I was wondering is it normal to have some movement in the pavers when walked on. It ain’t much just make noise when walked on. Will this go away when the locking sand is applied?

[@KennethRichterSeattle]

Curious if you figured this out?

[@patton3509]

I love the pattern you got here. How did you cut the triangle pieces along the edges? I’m DIYing pavers for my small backyard and have never cut any bricks in my life. What kind of saw do I need?

[@AndrewDIY]

Thanks! You can rent the wet saw at Home Depot. You need to attach it to a hose and keep the water running while you do it. You can use a masonry blade on a circular saw and dry cut it, but it's WAY dusty and you don't want to breathe any of that stuff in for any prolonged period of time, or ever really.

[@wyericc]

did you use polymeric sand?

[@geof98]

Does it feel solid? I intend to do some heavy weightlifting on my patio

[@AndrewDIY]

Absolutely. I was nervous because when I first put the pad down I felt a little 'give', but after it was all installed, it's 100% solid, no give or play whatsoever, feels as solid as a concrete floor, no joking.

[@housemachine509]

Doesn’t it feel squishy when you walk on it before the poly sand?

[@AndrewDIY]

There was a little play and I was nervous, but there's no give or squish whatsoever.

[@bhowardnj]

Nice review/overview. This has me interested. I do wish there was a bit more on the "3 years later ... condition" part unless there really was no serious downsides. Any masonry brickwork project is godawful expensive so I suppose $2.50 per square feet for the base pads is within reason as a fraction of the cost.

[@AndrewDIY]

I tell you what, in another 3 years I'll do an update! But so far so good!

[@howtocrypto1112]

Andrew DIY thanks 🙏🏾 save $ always so cares about a little squish as long as water is never trapped

[@robh.1917]

Hi Andrew, I'm about to install a patio using these panels. How much leveling sand did you use under the panels? The instructions are to use 1/2 inch of sand but I'm thinking about using 1 inch of sand.

[@AndrewDIY]

Depending on what's below it. I should have used 1" just because I didn't do the greatest job with grading the ground below it, or I guess I should have spent more time leveling the ground. Over all though, I'd recommend trusting your gut. Always better to over-engineer something than under.

[@noreengonzalez574]

Would the base pads be able to withstand an above ground pool? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@Cam37]

A pool needs a thick base that has been properly tamped down to prevent settling and an uneven pad. You can still use these pads 'on top' of the properly hard-packed base.

[@compubyte2010]

@@Cam37 Yeah, with the weight of all that water @ 8.3 lbs per gallon. I'm sure it needs to properly be packed.. at that point. purchasing the pads would really be a waste of Money IMO .. I don't think you'd get anything extra out of them. ( As you have to do it properly and the pads are for skipping that step.. ). and they aren't for driving on.. so not sure the weight of a pool with water wouldn't maybe be too much and squish it down?

[@yuehua9394]

Hello! Do I really have to use a weed barrier fabric underneath? Can we skip this part? It’s only 40 square feet. Thank you!

[@AndrewDIY]

To me it was worth it. Weeds on patios are ugly and can cause problems later on.

[@yuehua9394]

Andrew DIY thank you!

[@marks6663]

the fabric is not for weeds. It is to keep the leveling sand from washing away. Weeds start from on top. If you have gaps between pavers, soil gets in there and then seeds start the weed.

[@kacykoelliker5817]

@@marks6663 i think Brock calls it "weed fabric" as calling it "geotextile" would confuse many DIY'ers as slow down sales :)

[@kevincloonan9787]

when u walk on the patio do you feel movement from the pads ? like a slight spongy feel ?

[@AndrewDIY]

Not at all. It feels rock solid. I was honestly expecting some degree of give. Nothing. You wouldn't have a clue they were under the bricks if you weren't there to install them. I'm still impressed.

[@kevincloonan9787]

@@AndrewDIY thanks for the reply

[@terrythomas790]

@@kevincloonan9787 Im thinking it depends on what kind of pavers used. Theres 4" thick ones and 2" thick. Im considering using these, but Im using the 2" pavers. I dont want any kind of noises walking on them. The 2" are obviously heavier. Thats where the old method, imo , is better, where the sand is actually under the paver instead of the solid panel. When final tamping of the pavers, the sand underneath goes up into the joints as well as the sand on top, goes down. This extra underneath locks them in position as well.

[@ingridnolan]

How well do you think this paver base would do if your pavers are not connected? I'm doing 20" pavers with about a 4" gap and putting rock & thyme in between.

[@AndrewDIY]

Great question. I am answering your question in a video I'm uploading today, but the short answer is: Yes, but it depends, mostly on what kind of rock is in between.

[@AndrewDIY]

Here's the updated 7 year review where I address your question: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpnIl6Gqh7CmmNU

[@dg91xj]

The one question I have before I start my paver patio with the foam pads is whether I can just dig up my grass and lay the foam pads directly on even soil and skip the part with the sand

[@tonypajerowski9390]

sand is on top of pads. pads are on level and compacted dirt.

[@MrFatboyfun]

@@tonypajerowski9390 false... the pads go on the sand. The sand goes on the level ground.

[@terrythomas790]

@@MrFatboyfun LOL. I put the pavers in first , covered them with 4 inches of sand and them laid the panels on top! Then compacted everything! LOL JK

[@tikakahn2521]

​@@terrythomas790 I followed all your steps and finished the top with fresh sod. I really enjoy mowing it.

[@MinhTran]

Did you compact the sand base? instructions not clear on box

[@thedon98677]

You can really compact sand like you can with normal soil or paver base. Just lay the sound out and level it as much as you can while also making sure you have slope away from any buildings

[@terrythomas790]

@@thedon98677 Sand doesnt compact, unless its wet like at the beach. Always soft where the water doesnt get to it.

[@dms04d]

Is putting an additional layer of leveling sand on top of the pads worth it to ensure a 100% smooth surface for the bricks to lay on?

[@suzanneseale9543]

Brock say don'tuse too much sand. Max 1 inch that goes on top of landscape fabric that is permeable. This video is all wrong.

[@curmudgeonrose1780]

This looks like a good product, but it’s quite expensive. Wouldn’t vinyl planks with drilled holes serve the same purpose at a cheaper cost?

[@Hizenbird]

No. How are the vinyl planks made? Is it a laminated product that will deteriorate and separate over time in the elements? The Brock panels have none of those problems.

[@griffinherbst]

3 years now further how is this holding up?

[@tommygarza82]

Did you use any polymeric sand?

[@AndrewDIY]

Yes. I used polymeric sand. Just make sure the color matches your bricks or you can permanently stain the brick. At least that was what happened to me.

[@DF-we4pt]

You’re not supposed to lay them at 4 corner joints they should’ve be offset. Also, I think you’re only supposed to use rock, not sand, with the paver panels. You only need like a half inch ve 4-6 inches excavation if you use the panels

[@amarinayat8879]

Thanks for the video. I have been wanting to hear about the durability. I have a few questions... Thanks in advance for answering my questions, and sharing your experiences. 1. What is the area of your patio? Did you do a cost analysis for brock vs conventional way of installing pavers? Would you mind sharing that? 2. You mentioned underneath sand you have compacted rock. Is your soil naturally rocky, or did you install rock base, and then compacted it? I have a clay soil. It is shifts based on moisture contents, It can expand and contract. Usually even messes up concrete slab foundations. 3. Hindsight, any other do's & don'ts that a new person needs to be aware of. I plan to use 1sqft concrete pavers. Patio site is in the open... meaning not surrounded on the sides with solid walls like yours. Thanks again.

[@AndrewDIY]

Hi Amar, the patio is about 12X18. I did do a cost analysis and it was less expensive. I priced it according to what Lowes, Home Depot and a local gravel company was selling, rock & sand, the brock pads were cheaper. The soil was very rocky, but I did compact it. I was worried about drainage, wasn't an issue, even with several hundred gallons dumped on it from draining a kids pool. Your concern of clay is valid. I'm not sure how this would work, but you can look at Brock's website for more tips in that department. In hindsight? I'm really glad I chose a quality brick. I've seen some people use bricks that aren't meant for patios, sharp edges on the bricks etc. So don't try and save money on bricks. Get the ones you want. The only other thing I wish I spent more time on was grading. There is a part where it slopes faster than I needed, but it's still great. I hope that helps!

[@hardkore360]

I believe the instructions say to offset the seams when you lay the panels down. Yet it seems to be holding up well, would like to see 6 and 9 year reviews.. thanks for the video.

[@andrelaplante8433]

Is it install in a 4 seasons location ..???

[@AndrewDIY]

Yes, installed in Utah, we range from heavy snow in winter to 100º + weather in the summer. Still going strong.

[@supernova8962]

is this foam...why cant i just use 1" thick insulation foam ?

[@AndrewDIY]

No, it's not foam. Insulation foam will break down, it's a dense material that doesn't compress.

[@marks6663]

You can use insulation foam. XPS foam will not disintegrate. That is one of the criticism of it from an environmental viewpoint. It lasts forever in the ground.

[@terrythomas790]

Thats a good idea! Now you got me thinking!

[@mmgajbregz]

Update four years later?

[@suzanneseale9543]

You are supposed to stagger your joints and the 1/2 inch of sand goes on top of landscape fabric. This is what the Brock Paverbase videos show.

[@rkashsggeggr6285]

Why is the sand for if these are meant to replace sand

[@AaronDigitalMuppet]

It's not meant to replace the sand, its to replace the gravel required for proper drainage.

[@kacykoelliker5817]

a 1/2" leveling sand is recommended as it's near impossible to perfectly compact & level any base material tighter than 1/4" (notable exception is a concrete base which doesn't call for leveling sand).

[@sungazer888]

You need to update your affiliate link

[@bnssoftware3292]

You're supposed to stagger the pads like laying bricks.

[@e4d578]

You shouldn't have it with 4 corners. The pads should be off-set like a layered brick to avoid weakness where the 4 corners meet.

[@kacykoelliker5817]

worked out for him but i've noticed many folks don't follow the guidelines and offset them as well

[@hmg8915]

yes, like brick is called running bond pattern . If you look at his video the pics of his final patio has a puddle on it. probably because of the prep work underneath

[@somarlegna]

those panels are not worth the cost in today's pricing to replace sand and the added caution effort

[@pdxmusl1510]

What I don't understand is I hear the "save money' speech from advocates of this technology. But I don't see it. If I'm doing a 300 sqft patio. I need roughly 150 cuft of roadbase. I guess if you compare home depot road base to paver panels... big box home improvement stores always over charge for bulk items. It works out to be $1.2~$1.5K for road base vs ~$650-$715 for the panels. So yeah.. sure. That's a savings. But that's more of a problem of that your going to the wrong store. Go to a landscape supply store and you can get that same road base for like $50 per yard (< $1 per bag basically). The most I've ever seen road base from a landscaping supply store was like $75 per yard. Which is still $450 rounding way up. But this is rounded up to the ridiculous extreme giving the paverbase panels the absolute best chance of being cheaper. And paver base pannels are still nearly 60% more. I guess I haven't really calculated equipment rental and cost to remove dirt. But IMO that doesn't add significantly to the cost. I've hauled away 6 yards of dirt for $60 in my area. So it's not really a consideration unless your doing something like renting a backhoe or excavator. But IMO.. that's overkill to a 300sqft patio unless you have health issues or something. I'm very interested in the product. However.. a cost savings it is not IMO. It's throwing money to save time. Good video though. I'm glad to hear after 3 years you have no real issues. I'm curious how things will be in 20.

[@AlexeySavva]

Nice comment! In my area I had to pay $58 for yard of dirt - www.zankerrecycling.com/zanker-recycling/how-we-recycle/disposal-fees/

[@saulgoodman2018]

But with regular base you'll have to have like 4-6 inches of road base? With a 3 in. paver, and 1 in. of sand. You have to dig down almost 1 ft. With this, you' don't need any base. So with a 3 in. paver, you'll only have to dig down like 6 in.

[@AndrewDIY]

Materials, space, depth are definitely factors, but most importantly time was the real savings. If I'm still alive I'll post a. 20 years later vid. lol

[@AndrewDIY]

@Pearl Perlita Venegas I plan on another 50+ years. To each their own!

[@saulgoodman2018]

So you would go down to his house and dig 300 square feet, down 1 foot? With no access to his backyard from the outside. You know how much time that would take to dig? Doing it his way saves time, and it'll save his back.

[@waynenguyen2806]

i see a puddle

[@AndrewDIY]

Guilty. That was my fault for not spending more time in the grading and leveling, nothing to do with the paver base.

[@tigerbalm666]

That $550 worth of pads!

[@Heartsbursting]

It reduces several bags of base and sand, so it tends to be cheaper in the long run. Definitely surprised on the cost to build a paver patio

[@terrythomas790]

@@Heartsbursting Never buy by the bag unless its for a small project. Way cheaper from a landscaping supply company in bulk. A UHaul pickup is $20 bucks a day if needed. Or pay $40 and have them dump it for you

[@RomanticPopPunk]

Can you park a car on it?

[@AndrewDIY]

I will be uploading a video today answering your question. Short answer: Yes, but there are conditions.

[@AndrewDIY]

Here's the updated 7 year review where I address your question: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpnIl6Gqh7CmmNU