Patio Base Prep You NEED to See for DIYers and Professionals

[@yogoombah2356]

Your sharing of your professional knowledge is much appreciated!

[@iamahardscaper]

Thank you!

[@jasonbierman8536]

First off your videos are amazing. If you did KZbin full time I have no doubt you’d be one of the top construction channels….. I’m a DIYer trying to build a paver patio with a 2 1/2 foot wrap around retaining wall in clay soil that doesn’t drain very well. I dug my retaining wall trench and after I saw the layout I hated it. I dug a new trench to make a longer/wider/ more square layout. The new layout is much better but now I have a empty trench to back fill. My problem is I don’t know how to back fill the old trench.. Do I need to slope the old trench to drain (drain where 🤷🏼‍♂️) and fill with 3/4 clean? Or can I just compact the old trench with backfill dirt?? Again your channel has been a god sent for me. Thank you.

[@iamahardscaper]

Thank you! You could do either. If you backfill, use a ramming compactor

[@AH-pz5np]

Hi, have watched almost all of your videos, very informative. Quick question regarding this one, should the geogrid be overlapped?

[@iamahardscaper]

Yes, overlapped about 6" to 1'. Not in retaining walls though when you use uniaxial, that has no overlap.

[@AnnoulaXeni]

Do what degree would you modify this for an area that is NOT subject to freeze and thaw cycles? I'm in the Mediterranean, considering a DIY paver patio, but am an over-60 female without access to a rental compacter, so trying to carefully judge what I can and cannot do (slowly ... but I have plenty of time). Wish to re-use 40 cm square pavers (5 cm thick). They were laid on a sand-only base 20+ years ago and the vast majority are just fine, have not shifted or cracked.

[@iamahardscaper]

Oh I wouldn’t know that unfortunately. I would consult with someone in your area.

[@botanicajames]

Hi, It looks like what you call A gravel has sand/ clay fines in it as well as the 3/4 or 20mm aggregate. Is that what you are using? In Australia I think we would call that road base. The geogrid in 100mm lifts makes sense. What if your pavers were to have a mortar between them? Would you use cement in your final base layer to stabilise or do you need a slab? Wanting to avoid a slab but match a mortared edge. Cheers, James

[@iamahardscaper]

Yeah road base is what it may be called in some areas here. We don't do mortar for pavers here because of our winters. Maybe for natural stone. In that case you could install a concrete slab and mortar on top of that. Because you have a different climate there, I would see what others are doing.

[@botanicajames]

@@iamahardscaper thanks so much, yes your frost/ freeze impacts must require close consideration. And yea your right, most will do a slab of sorts in our climate under mortared In paving systems

[@antoniobaldiviezo8140]

Learning a lot its a dingo525?

[@iamahardscaper]

No, I think this is the 427. 3' wide bucket

[@blackacreage4868]

Why did you use woven geotextile here? From most of your videos (which are excellent btw!) I gather that the more permeable non-woven is the way to go?

[@iamahardscaper]

I wanted the added stabilization that woven provides in this scenario. I always do use nonwoven for synthetic base, raised patios, and some retaining walls. For most other applications I will use woven.

[@ryancheek273]

Do you always use a geo grid incorporated into your base? If not, what is the deciding factor? Thanks

[@iamahardscaper]

Always unless it is a synthetic base where the stabilization comes from the panels

[@KGSHEAMASONRY]

What type of wheel barrel are you using (Belle)? can’t seem to find those in the states

[@iamahardscaper]

TUFX

[@KGSHEAMASONRY]

@@iamahardscaper thanks

[@Amedeus1756]

Where do you get the grid, do home center sells them?

[@iamahardscaper]

Not that I know of. Find a landscape supplier.

[@donray2435]

Boom goes the dynamite

[@iamahardscaper]

👍🙌

[@rankhan590]

Bro this don’t make sense to me

[@iamahardscaper]

What do you need clarification on?