Laying Gator Base Around a Pool | Screeding HPB, Slopes, and Synthetic Base

On today's video, we screed HPB and lay Gator Base around a pool. We discuss why we use HPB instead of Concrete Sand underneath our Gator Base and how we figure out slopes around this pool to ensure that we control the water.
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[@josephgroeneveld4989]

Love hpb! Smart move to get the GB in before the real winter weather comes.

[@iamahardscaper]

Definitely! Thank you for watching and commenting 👍

[@carlw]

That is fun, screening hpb then laying the GB. Pretty scary job with those complex grades and using the large slabs which are not very forgiving if the overall plane is not flat (not level, flat). My patio was multiple grades but towards one corner not "if then else". 💪

[@iamahardscaper]

Appreciate that Carl!

[@oil_can]

Hi! Which brand of paver base panels are the best and why? Thx!

[@iamahardscaper]

Alliance Gator base and TechniSeal Ez Base are good. I’d say EZ base is a little better because it is easier to snap into pieces. But each have different measurements so you may want to buy one over the other because it works better with less waste for the size of your project

[@MStark]

That is unfortunate but still some funny shit! Looks like we get to see the polar plunge on the next video!

[@iamahardscaper]

haha, we will see if I am that desperate for content!

[@deanhopp2068]

GatorBase seems to be a good product, I like the fact that it interlocks but the big box stores around me sell Brock paver panels which is similar to GB but without the interlocking. What's your thoughts on interlocking vs. non-interlocking?

[@iamahardscaper]

I prefer Gator Base because of that interlocking aspect. I think it’s huge to have that. But there is another one called EZ Base that also interlocks and has a different footprint than Gator base

[@dennyB4845]

I noticed from other videos of this project you first removed old pavers. Did you have to amend the subbase below those areas before installing the paverbase? My project has a section of old pavers that I removed. It looks like they just used a layer of contractor sand on top of native soil. Should I amend it? If so, what material and depth would you recommend? Awesome KZbin channel by the way!

[@iamahardscaper]

Thank you! This one we excavated a little bit of the existing base, compacted it, and then built our base on top. Since we were not on subsoil (except the wall) we did not amend (except the wall). Are you in a region that has frost? Are you planning to use these paver base panels?

[@dennyB4845]

@@iamahardscaper Yes, I already picked up the Gatorbase and my clean chip gravel. I’m in a region that has frost. High desert (Northern Utah). I’ve removed the sod and organics and moving forward. Thanks for any advice and recommendations.

[@iamahardscaper]

yeah, you can definitely amend it. I would sprinkle a Type S Mortar mix rather than a Portland Cement. Add in a little bit of 3/4" clear. But if you subsoil is sandy and not saturated, you could skip this.

[@dennyB4845]

@@iamahardscaper Thanks!

[@patricktho936]

Looks awesome!!!! Would you recommend the tuffX wheel barrow to landscape crews? Thanks happy holidays!!

[@iamahardscaper]

That thing is indestructible and lightweight. It is incredible

[@greatdealproducts6894]

Great Video. What does HPB stand for, in Michigan we call it #9 chipstone but I've heard it called 3/8ths and down, or ohio chip and a couple more that escape me right now.

[@iamahardscaper]

High Performance Bedding. It’s just a trademarked term by Dufferin Aggregates

[@sugar02139]

Great video. I’m not seeing HPB in any of the big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@iamahardscaper]

I would buy your supplies from a landscape supplier near you. Big box stores typically have sub par materials for hardscapes

[@AsKyOdA]

Where do you source your gater base ? I cannot fins any vendor in Las vegas. Thanks again for all the good vids

[@iamahardscaper]

That may be difficult in Vegas, but you should be looking for Gator Base or EZ base by Techni Seal. There is also another product called Brock Paver Base. They are all the exact same except that Gator Base has the tongue and groove system from piece to piece.

[@yogoombah2356]

Lowes has Brock, $12.98 2'x3' per panel.

[@AsKyOdA]

Thank you both, i found the brock product a good alternative. Where can i also source the gator tile spacers, i would use on porcelain tiles. These are spacers you set at the bottom of tiles and ensures tiles are straight. Thank you in advance

[@iamahardscaper]

I would reach out to alliance gator directly to see where you can source those. They will point you in the right direction

[@greatdealproducts6894]

if there is a unilock dealer near you, they normally carry aliance products@@AsKyOdA

[@jasonm17]

I don't have access to any sort of clear base or bedding martial. Am I good to use synthetic base with dense grade material? I live in Arizona so virtually no freeze thaw cycles and seasonal monsoon storms for about 2-3 months at a time

[@iamahardscaper]

You need to use either the 1/4" clear bedding or concrete sand. It wont sit nicely on base material. Though you wont get the full benefit of these panels where you are as their full benefit is for areas that do experience freeze thaw. Likely in Arizona you would be installing about a 4" base.

[@jasonm17]

​@@iamahardscaper sorry let me clarify, in my scenario, I would put down dense grade bedding, compact, then concrete sand, compact again, then the synthetic base, does that sound correct?

[@iamahardscaper]

Yup that’s right 👍

[@jasonm17]

@@iamahardscaper perfect thank you

[@prakashambastha7530]

How much thick is that HPB layer needed? 1-2 inches? Thanks.

[@iamahardscaper]

1 to 1.5" no more.