How to Build a Level Stone Paver Patio

Patios are the foundation of a functional backyard, and getting one right requires respect for what lies beneath the surface. While the stones are what you see, the sub-base is what keeps the patio from shifting, sinking, or cracking through the seasons. A job well done results in a rock-solid surface that sheds water away from your home and stays perfectly level for decades. Building a patio is less about masonry skills and more about moving dirt and maintaining consistent depth. You are essentially creating a self-draining engineering project. When you focus on a firm, compacted base and proper pitch, the actual laying of the stones becomes the easy reward at the end of the process.

  1. Mark and Dig Deep. Mark the perimeter with batter boards and string lines, setting a slight slope of one-quarter inch per foot away from the house. Excavate the area to a depth of at least eight inches to accommodate your base layers.
  2. Crush the Soil. Run a plate compactor over the exposed soil until it is dense and firm. If the soil is soft or clay-heavy, add extra gravel to prevent settling.
  3. Build Your Base. Fill the excavated area with four to six inches of 3/4-inch crushed gravel. Spread it evenly with a rake and use the plate compactor to drive it down into a rock-hard layer.
  4. Level the Sand. Lay two one-inch diameter PVC pipes across the gravel as rails. Spread coarse bedding sand between them and drag a straight board across the pipes to create a perfectly level, one-inch deep sand surface.
  5. Set the Stones. Start from the house or a straight edge and work outward. Place stones side-by-side without sliding them, which can disrupt the sand bed, and use a rubber mallet to tap them into place.
  6. Seal the Joints. Install plastic or metal edge restraints around the perimeter and secure them with 10-inch steel spikes. Spread polymeric sand over the stones and sweep it into all the joints until they are full.
  7. Activate and Done. Mist the surface lightly with a hose to activate the polymers in the sand. Do not soak the surface, as this will wash away the bonding agents.