Do it Yourself Paver Walls
- 1). Outline the area where you plan to build your wall with wooden stakes and string. The width of the wall should equal the width of your pavers, plus 6 inches. Place the stakes at the four corners of the wall, or every 2 feet if the wall is curved. Decide how tall you want the paver wall to be. For a garden yard or property border, consider limiting the height to 3 feet or less for maximum stability, unless you plan to consult with an engineer.
- 2). Dig out the area inside your markers to create a trench for the wall's foundation. Continue digging until the trench is 4 inches deeper than the depth of your pavers. If your area is prone to freezing temperatures, dig the trench below the frost line to prevent frost heave damage.
- 3). Use a hand tamper to compact the surface of the trench until it is flat and even. Place landscape fabric over the soil to prevent weeds from developing beneath the foundation.
- 4). Pour 4 inches of gravel over the fabric and spread it evenly with a 2-by-4 to improve drainage. Compact the gravel to prevent the foundation from settling once the paver wall is built.
- 5). Place your first paver at one end of the trench, leaving 3 inches of space on both sides. Place a level on top of the paver to check that it is even, and then tap it into the gravel with a rubber mallet.
- 6). Set the next paver flush against the first one, tapping it with the mallet until it is level with the first paver. Continue setting your first course of pavers until you reach the end of the trench. Position the level on different places on the wall to ensure it is level all the way across. Add more gravel at the base to adjust the stones as necessary.
- 7). Lay the second course of pavers on top of the first course, using a half paver on each end. The half pavers will offset the pattern so that each top stone overlaps the joint of two stones below it.
- 8). Fill in the gaps in the trench with gravel, and compact the gravel.
- 9). Continue to build up, laying one course at a time. Stagger the joints of each course by placing half pavers on the ends of alternate courses.
- 10
Clean the top level of pavers with a scrub brush and water. Once dry, apply a coat of adhesive to the top pavers and place a cap block over each paver. The cap stones will prevent frost and water damage to the porous pavers.
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