How to level the ground for BASE PREP for Pavers! The Perfect Patio series Part 2: Base Prep

[@terran5569]

Put a level form board on the sides of the area to be screeded and screed off of them for a flat surface. The ground underneath the base rock should be slopped for drainage if necessary.

[@alexspike2901]

Very helpful, thank you! These videos are also well done, btw. Thanks again!

[@HardscapeCanada]

Thank you!

[@bradenmorris9096]

Thanks for a good video 👍

[@HardscapeCanada]

You are very welcome!

[@richpaulfive]

Can't find part 3 either. Would have been nice if you included links to the various other parts.

[@HardscapeCanada]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWKXoaOObc2KrsU

[@leandrecl]

Just wanna make sure here! So the string lines are the highpoint of the futur patio. You than retract an halfinch from your 2x4 to make it 3 inch width to simulate the last 1inch layer of roadbase and the 2 inch of pave ? Thanks for your time ! 😅

[@HardscapeCanada]

Basically yes, the roughly 1/2” off of the 2x4 will get you to the final height of roadbase, then you will be adding exactly 1” of sand and your paver (widths vary but typically 2” 3/8

[@johnwilkins3995]

Someone please answer this. So you have a level line on perimeter. What about the middle or interior area? How to you find level based off the perimeter level strings?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Once you set your perimeter lines to the appropriate slope, ideally in one direction, you can setup secondary lines anywhere for the middle using the heights of the perimeter lines as your reference

[@johnwilkins3995]

@@HardscapeCanada thank you very much. So maybe one through the middle of the rectangle? And the 2”x4” should reach enough to level the whole area? Is there a good video or source that displays this?

[@HardscapeCanada]

@johnwilkins3995 hey yes checkout the same video above one more time! Skip to 1:25

[@johnwilkins3995]

@@HardscapeCanadasuch a help, really thanks. Gonna give this a try myself bc too expensive and I need a patio.

[@pawneep20]

Getting ready to pour a backyard patio, when sloping away from the house are you sloping the base or the slab itself?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Both!

[@pawneep20]

@@HardscapeCanada gotcha now what’s the easiest way to slope it for a diy project

[@HardscapeCanada]

Here you go! THE ONLY WAY TO SETUP SLOPES!!!!! Everything you need to setup slopes for any project in your yard! kzbin.info/www/bejne/maqsXpqfib-noqs

[@GT-elqt]

​@@HardscapeCanada awesome clip and excellent explanation. Thank you!

[@teresa-ux8db]

I already have landscape rock laid down and don't want to have to dig it out to try to level the ground under. Would it be reasonable to lay gravel over the rock, either on a rock blanket barrier or no barrier and just lay it directly on the rock? I'm putting flagstone on top to make a pathway that I want as level as possible for my elderly mom. Help 😊😊

[@be_reselient]

Ive done mostly all of my Patio in my backyard, without level base. It starts to get uneven over time but as long as you dont concrete it down you can alway make fixes…

[@yemaste]

So are you getting your final slope in the last roadbase lift? are you just using the level lines as reference? Are the marks on the 2x4 supposed to line up with the level lines?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Technically you are setting the final slope at the beginning with the string lines. Then simply working up to them, with all of your roadbase layers and final screed. Yes you can make marks, or notch out the ends of a 2x4 (size depends on paver) taking into account about 1/2” for compaction of the final roadbase layer, to get ready for bars and sand.

[@kristianjovanov2666]

What really confuses me is the consistent slop.... so when I set my lines where I want the patio to be at, for example, a stand-alone fire pit with paver platform, I would do my calculations to get the slope, so drop a inch is that's what it calls for.. then I would still dig say 7 inches all the around and set the slop with the base and follow it with the sand? Or do I dig 6 inches on 1 side and 7 on the other to get that 1 inch slop or whatever it calls for? Hope to hear back from you, and thanks for the video

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey, yes you want to set your string lines to the final height and slope, and then you would dig down below the stringlines everywhere to your 7”. Once the strings are set we don’t have to think about the slope anymore, we can just work our layers up to the strings and be sure that the finished surface will have the slope we want. Make sense?

[@kristianjovanov2666]

Thank you yes makes sense now I think I was just over thinking it

[@bullseye0112]

What boots are you wearing, I need a good pair for landscape construction

[@HardscapeCanada]

Best ones I’ve found so far are Keen Utility ‘Reno’. Lite but strong and waterproof. Last much longer and keep your joints feeling great compared to leather.

[@bullseye0112]

@@HardscapeCanada can you dig with them without ripping the bottom up?

[@briandalager]

What size do you recommend for your Roadbase/AB? 1/4" minus, 1/2" minus, ......

[@HardscapeCanada]

Typically 3/4” minus for the roadbase layer

[@brandonrucha3177]

when he hammered the stakes in i thought my computer was breaking

[@DuckDaPhillyFan]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DuckDaPhillyFan]

The dog here barked

[@katlynsara]

Great video. What roadbase are you using? Crusher, rock screener or something else?

[@brentbunch3943]

Is the road base crushed limestone with fines or is it washed?

[@HardscapeCanada]

It’s not limestone (varies based on area) but it’s similar and does have fines.

[@stevewarner8686]

Can I set pavers directly on baserock instead of sand?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Ideally no! The bedding layer is important for compaction and to lock the pieces together!

[@stevewarner8686]

Great thanks for information! Thanks for all of your videos!

[@HardscapeCanada]

@stevewarner8686 you are so welcome!

[@chloec8859]

what crush dif you use Kev? Thank yo

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey I used a gravel commonly called ‘road-base’ or road crush.

[@patricktho936]

Is your road base permeable? Or does it have to be clean 3/4?

[@HardscapeCanada]

This road base is not permeable, but you could switch it to a 3/4” clean crushed gravel and use a permeable paver on top to complete the system.

[@yemaste]

@@HardscapeCanada When would you use this instead of a traditional paver with a perimeter drain?

[@mariebee3146]

I need to put pavers at the entryway of my screened enclosure. My problem is that my concrete slab/porch has parts that extend out and above my ground level. The concrete is ragged (overspill) so my pavers won't sit flush against the concrete if i place them ground level. I will need to install them above that rough extension of the concrete. I guess I need to raise the soil level, but then the rest of my lawn will sit lower. What do you recommend i do in this case? Please keep in mind, I'm an older lady who can do anything too labor intensive, like cut the concrete or something crazy like that.

[@030francoable]

Use a chisel and hammer to knock of the concrete in the way

[@GrillManDan]

Kev, I’m plan to lay pavers that slope down from a covered concrete patio. At the end of the slope I plan on placing a channel drain. The paver area is 18’ x 25’. 18’ is the sloped dimension. Im using Belgard’s Catalina Grana 3-piece small. My question is, can I get away with a 1” slope or would you recommend a 2” slope. I have 3/4 road base down, compacted and will have 1” of bedding sand.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey sounds like you’re on the right track! 1.5% slope for 18’ length is (18x12”) = 216” x1% (minimum slope) =2.16” 1.5% (ideal slope in my opinion) = 3.24” So bare minimum is 2”, I would go to 3” to make sure water flows off the surface nicely. It will still feel flat if the entire surface slopes in that one direction.

[@richpaulfive]

Where can I find part one? I looked and can't find it. Thanks.

[@HardscapeCanada]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oV7FeH2rnt5nmM0

[@johnwealthy6044]

very nice video. Some nice videos you are producing on your channel. Does the ground beneath the base also have to be graded in a similar way to the base? I have done the hard digging but feel I need to spend a little more time filling the lows and shaving off the highs before I put the base down.

[@milesstump6581]

SUPER informative instructions. Quick question, where do you get your stakes? I can't seem to find anything longer than 8" from the big box stores, and I think I'm Googling the wrong terminology.

[@VintageR6-q2r]

Masonry stake for concrete forming Look at Home Depot next to the string in masonry aisle

[@TheBattery124]

So if youre adding the road base, do you measure heigh to the lines before compacting? Also I assume you're measure for 3" off along the line to make sure you're slope is going correctly? Then add final soil and measure say 2" along the lines so when you finally lay the pavers down they should sit flush with the lines? Not sure why it sounds so complicated to me lol

[@RayRaciti-co6wd]

Do you recommend stone dust anywhere during the install? Thank you for the videos!

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey I hear a lot about stone dust, however I have never used it due to it not being available in my local area!

[@KKK-u2y]

Background music disturbs and annoys.

[@jeffsmith5787]

You just have to get into the beat, my man!

[@understew]

Terrible background music. Finding a different video. Can’t finish.

[@hungtsan9733]

Confusing