How To Set String Lines, Square & Lay Concrete Pavers

Let me show you how I set string lines and lay pavers to get a professional result. This video is full of tips and tricks, so if you are trying to learn the basics of how to install a paver patio, this video will be very helpful for you. Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback of any kind!
#hardscaping #pavers #patio #concrete #construction #landscaping
- The pavers used on this project are manufactured by (Genest).
- The main pavers are called (Grand Katahdin) with a color tone of (Meadow)
- The border pavers are called (Hollandstone) with a color tone of (Charcoal)
Check out all the videos from this project by clicking this playlist link right here👉 • Backyard Makeover!

[@mikeutubename]

Definitely appreciate the long, thorough videos that hit ever aspect. Great content, thank you!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Glad you like it man, Thank you!

[@mrmarty1403]

Our company is expanding into small hardscaping projects and one of my sons has shown a lot of interest. We've been through a butt load of KZbin info and stumbled across yours. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge. The string tightening trick was a nice bonus.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Very cool, it is an awesome industry that is growing big time. Glad you liked the video, those string line tricks helped me out a lot. 👍🏻

[@joshn7829]

This is the first video of yours I found when learning about doing my own patio. When I watched this video originally i knew nothing and I didn't really understand a lot of the things you were explaining. After going back and watching more of your videos I've learned so much and came back here. I understand everything you are saying now and I'm excited to start my project. You should make a KZbin short with your string trick if you haven't yet. Thanks for all the videos!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

That is really cool to hear! It is very motivating to hear from people like you on how these videos help with their own projects. I did make a KZbin short on the string trick and it has done pretty good with a lot of positive feedback.

[@erichache1138]

Love all your videos. Learned a lot from them and i'm very greatful for your generousity to share your experience and tricks with all of us. May God bless you and your family and team as well. Thank you

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

My pleasure, I'm glad they have helped you! Thanks for the feedback and support, God Bless you too!

[@KristieLeighK]

Best string line explanation! Thank you!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

My pleasure, glad it was helpful! ✌

[@Scottswrestling]

Love your videos man! Oh tanks for giving back to the community.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thanks for the support man, I am really enjoying making videos and connecting with others here on KZbin!

[@zappa916]

Good work. It's shows you're passionate about your work and rubs off on people.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thank you, I absolutely love the work I do. Thanks for the feedback! ✌🏻

[@JLThisisMe]

Excellent work and tutorials. Detailed and thorough. Thanks.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

No problem, thank you! I’m glad it was helpful. 👍🏻

[@AndrewFroude]

Great job. Thks for the tips.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thanks!

[@giselledogan2024]

Nice work! I’m getting ready to do my patio here in the Seattle area. Lots of rain up here so I will go with the quarter inch chip rock like you did!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thanks man! Chip rock is definitely what you want for a rainy area like Seattle, glad you liked the video, Maybe you can share a picture of the patio in the comments when your done!

[@julioastudillo6974]

You just solved ny problem . Thank you very much . I want to send lots of good vibes to you guys I’m Peruvian concrete finisher in Las Vegas

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Glad to hear it brother! It is always nice to hear from people in other trades. Concrete is a big business down there I imagine... God Bless! ✌

[@karlevans1982]

What an excellent series of tutorials.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thank you, glad you liked it ✌

[@CusterFinancialCoaching]

Nice!

[@josheberth2541]

You’re a great teacher

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Glad the video was helpful! ✌

[@rupindergill3619]

Good brother I like your work

[@grizzlygang8432]

Great work 💪

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thanks! ✌🏻

[@petechabot8948]

Very helpful !!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I try to leave a neat job for all customers

[@mikez4132]

Glad I found your channel. Been away from pavers for a while. Great refresher and new tips. Nice work.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thank you for the support! Glad you enjoyed the video ✌🏻

[@mikez4132]

@@TheChristianHardscaper for sure. Ill be catching up on all the rest over the next few weeks. Great channel.

[@arturovidal1508]

Thanks very much for all how explain step be step good videos

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

No problem at all, glad they are helpful!

[@Fraishe]

You’re a beastt💪

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

🤣✌🏻

[@christopherrojas9690]

Thank you. I was very curious about the pattern.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@eddie72bx99]

Your very inspiring I’m retired and I’m going to rent a skid steer and I’m going to do my own backyard thanks brother for your inspiration 🙏🙏🙏

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

That's awesome man! The motivation and will power is the most important part, the rest will follow. Good luck with your project and thank you very much for the feedback! ✌

[@eddie72bx99]

@@TheChristianHardscaper will send u before and after pics I’m starting March 1 the whole project 🙏🙏🙏👊👊👊

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

@@eddie72bx99 Awesome, I would love to see the pictures when you get it done. Thank you for that. Connecting with DIY'ers here on KZbin was one of my main goals!

[@rizzotto139]

Awesome string line trick, THANKS BIG TIME!!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

No problem, learning that trick has helped be like crazy.... it is very useful 👍

[@geraldfranz9085]

Talk about "kick ass", you're rockin it Brother !!! (Pun intended, lol)

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

🤣✌🏻 Thanks brother!

[@fallboys7109]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing. can i skip the 3/4 base grave and only use the smaller gravel?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I would not recommend using only the small stone unless you are in a warm climate that does not go through a freeze cycle and if it’s not in a very wet area.

[@myke_bota7590]

Thank you for all your informative videos. What are you using for ground stakes to hold the string line? Length and thickness.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

My pleasure! Those are concrete form stakes from Home depot. I like the 24" ones the best. ✌

[@ZyklonNihilist]

I had recently been taught that string line trick and it really is so useful! It actually does make u look more professional haha. Anyways for these 3 peice combos I had been thought to never put any same size peice straight adjacent to each other. Is there any reason for that? I see that you do that with the squared peices.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

That trick helped me 1000’s of times in my career so far. Super helpful! As far as laying like sizes together, that’s fine in my book as long as there is no 4 ways. The thing is that every 3 piece combo paver manufactures have different ratios of the 3 sizes. You just got to lay them the best you can.. ✌🏻

[@kmibuilding906]

Hey awesome videos and you explain it well. When you install fire pits do you increase the deep of base stone for the additional weight, I'm helping out a friend and she might install a portable spa and I'm wondering how the additional weight will have on paver level. How did all the weekends rain affect what you had laid both pavers and stone, any movement? Busy busy I'm sure, get back when you can. Peace

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thanks! We don't excavate deeper for firepits, the depth we prep for pavers is plenty for firepits. Depending on the size of the spa, that may effect the pavers over a long period of time. I usually recommend pouring a concrete pad for spas, just to be safe. Rain does not effect this type of base stone wat all. That is the plus about using clean crushed stone.✌

[@kmibuilding906]

@@TheChristianHardscaper Thanks for your prompt reply, stone delivery today. My thoughts exactly installing a slab below the stone for support. Thanks again for your help! Peace

[@steved.5628]

Nice work, do you run a plate compactor over when your done and backfilled

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Yes we do, and actually we used a vibrating rolling compactor on this project. I have it in the poly sand video in the playlist that this video is in 🤙🏻

[@steved.5628]

@@TheChristianHardscaper sweet I’ll check it out

[@JuanTorres-gd2gn]

Hi, was wondering, what is that material that you're laying the pavers on, crushed stone?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Yes sir, 1/4" - 3/8" clean, crushed stone. It is called a few different things depending on where you get it. (PBS- Premium Bedding Stone) or (HPB- High Performance Bedding) or around here in Massachusetts (Chip Stone)

[@avalosoadm]

what material are you using for weed prevention before pouring base?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

It is actually a special stabilization fabric, its made of Geotextile plastic which is permeable (allows water to flow through it) and it is designed to be an underlayment to help stabilize the base material and help prevent sinking and shifting. ✌

[@graemevincent2149]

Im not sure if I missed it in your other videos or not, but how deep do you usually make each layer when youre putting down the base? Id really appreciate knowing. Thanks.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Our base stone is typically 6-8 inches deep and the bedding stone we lay the pavers on is 1-1.5 inches deep. ✌

[@graemevincent2149]

@@TheChristianHardscaper Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. I really love the work you guys have been doing in your videos it looks fantastic. I am curious though, what do you do if the area you are paving has patches of low ground? Say its a path you want to maintain the same grade on but there is a dip in the ground that you couldnt dig down?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

@@graemevincent2149 Thank you, glad you are enjoying the videos. If you have low spots in the proposed patio / walkway area, I excavate the top soil and backfill with the same method, you just may have more backfill material in that area than the others, which is fine. Is that what you are talking about?

[@jeffcook9798]

@@TheChristianHardscaper Follow up on the stone layers. I have an area that I will need to excavate down on to remove dirt, but at the same time I have to back calculate how many inches of 3/4 base, and 3/8" layer, + the paver thickness to end up level around the existing free form edge of the existing concrete patio. How much of each layer should I do as a minimum + the paver thickness for this type of situation? Also knowing I am in a winter zone in North Idaho and have freeze/snow seasons in Coeur D'Alene. Will use the pipes to try and get a 1/8" (1%) to 3/16" 1.5% pitch away from the house and patio. I finished all 12 Home makeover video group today, took notes, and will be starting excavation soon. Great video series. Look forward to your response and recommendations

[@thebigroy]

My local gravel supply has 1/4" 10 clean crushed rock. Would that be the same as what you call 1/4" chip rock?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

That sounds like the right stuff. Just be sure that it is clean with no dust and you are good to go ✌

[@rorycompton8138]

What size dead blow do you like to use?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

We use 5.5lb dead blows for pavers

[@Klistern2]

Heres a tip, throw away your stakes and strings for heights, buy a screed with a spirit level in it, save an epic amount of time. Use a finer bedding sand, like crushed metal dust or quartz sand. Use the screed to put in lines that indicate height and fall, then buy some flat metal strips a few mil thick, 4cm wide and about 2.4 m long, lay them on the lines you have created with the screed/level and screed away.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I have to be honest with you, I disagree with all of this. No disrespect though. String lines have been tested and true since the beginning of time, throwing them away is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Finer bedding sand is not good. You want open grade aggregate under your pavers for water to flow through freely. Fine bedding sand has a high chance of migration, not good.... Flat metal strips do not stay straight and true and do not allow for enough bedding material. But to each his own. ✌

[@windsrprk]

Our paver patio was sand on top of clay. What a mess! Not only were weeds a problem but the rain caused so much shifting that the patio itself looked like a rippling pond. Thanks to your videos I have excavated (by hand) down several inches and will be redoing the patio the way you do them for your customers. No sand!!

[@RigoMariscal-wc1zz]

What kind of base material did you use? Also, what kind of top layer did you use?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Here is a video I made which explains the base prep in detail 👉🏻 The BEST Backfill Method for Concrete Pavers (Open Grade Base) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZnEe5hpf9Z3bKs

[@misadkojasevic7616]

Can I use 3/8 stone under pavers In my place I can’t found 1/4 hpb Thank you

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

You most certainly can, that 1/4 inch stone is tough to find… I have been using 3/8 recently because I can’t find the 1/4 inch job ✌🏻

[@misadkojasevic7616]

@@TheChristianHardscaper thank you very much for your help

[@trishmcelderry4762]

I'm just curious why you don't use a product called , I think it's called geogrid. It gives strength to the base layer and prevents the aggregate from moving, settling over time, washing away, and holds a nice edge. At least, that's what I heard. I'm just curious. Thanks. Great content .

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

We use Geo Grid under patios sometimes, but only when it is poor soil conditions. This project had a great subsoil and only required the geotextile fabric. But on a project with heavy clay sub soil, we would put a layer of geo grid in the middle of it for sure. ✌

[@JULIOMARTINEZ-el7bq]

Where did you buy your square tool ?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

You can get those at home depot, lowes or any hardware store ✌

[@figofigo7908]

What is the measurement from the ground to the string line

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I set it about 1/4" higher than the pavers so it does not touch any of them. That keeps the line true. ✌

[@tigere3528]

How deep is your base

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

8-10 inches

[@puffermint5310]

please change the angle of your camera. it gets dark. nice content.

[@ncjrock1]

Nice video, thanks for sharing really like your work. Are you on Instagram?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Thank you, my pleasure! I do not have instagram...

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

some reason when I lay my piples they move all over the place, and cause me to have a dip or off level a bit.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Do you have steel gas pipes?

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

@@TheChristianHardscaper no

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

@@bigcartoonyIIV Those are the best for this. They are thick gauge steel so they stay straight and firm while installing them. Some people use plastic conduit or thin aluminum fence posts, I don't think those hold up as well and will create unlevel areas when you are screeding. You can get the pipes from home depot or lowes, it is ( galvanized steel gas pipes ) ✌

[@Mustafghan]

You dont use sand under the pavers?

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Negative, we lay on clean crushed stone. Here is a video I made which explains the method in much more detail 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZnEe5hpf9Z3bKs

[@TacoBell5DollarBox]

I've called four rock yards and none have the 1/4 inch stone. Only the 3/4 base and the cement sand.. unfortunately I'll have to go with that. The smallest crushed rock available is 3/8ths which is too big I think.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

Hey man, The 1/4 can be hard to find. I actually haven't been able to get it either for the past year or so. I use the 3/8 crushed all the time now. Works great. It says 3/8 but like 50% or more of it is 1/4 inch or less. What the 3/8 inch is referring to is the size of the gaps in the screener. But the majority of the pieces are less than 3/8. I would not recommend the concrete sand. It may migrate down into the 3/4 and cause sink holes. I know it sounds like 3/8 is to big, but it will work and hold up way better than the concrete sand. ✌

[@TacoBell5DollarBox]

@@TheChristianHardscaper thank you so much!

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

No problem, good luck!!

[@Livingstoncreekgamefarm]

I see a huge run line

[@Livingstoncreekgamefarm]

It’s 4 blocks run on

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

You talking about the squares all together?

[@Livingstoncreekgamefarm]

Are you hiring , I’m looking to learn the trade and have experience

[@Livingstoncreekgamefarm]

@@TheChristianHardscaperyeah where the seam is running on like 4 blocks

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

@@Livingstoncreekgamefarm Oh ok, 4 or 5 pavers is the max I go on a patio. I consider 6 or more a long line but 4 or 5 is typical here and there. And unfortunately I am not hiring right now.

[@hughtyrrell3450]

why don't you start on the pathway as the main part of the patio will then be square without the need to square it off 🤔

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I certainly could have started with the walkway but we decided to start with the patio. Those strings needed to be set up regardless. Even if we started with the walk we need a squared off string line to guide us on the patio and make sure the joint lines don’t get wavy.

[@hughtyrrell3450]

@@TheChristianHardscaper thanks for letting me know, I was sure you have a good reason. Always great to learn new things 👍 keep up the good work 😁

[@RaulCortes-mr2dp]

@@TheChristianHardscaper Yes, they get wavy. It happens to me, but I am going to apply your method. I really appreciate your videos buddy. Wish the best of life.

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

@@RaulCortes-mr2dp They sure do, doesn't take much. The line keeps you straight and true. Thanks for the feedback. God Bless Man!✌

[@mellamodiego8458]

you kind of look like Ben Affleck…same jaw line

[@TheChristianHardscaper]

I have got that a few times here on KZbin, I never seen it before but I see it a little now..🤣