Assembly tips and instructions
Tools needed:
Wheelbarrow, shovels, pickaxe, rake (for soil and base layer preparation);
Vibrating plate (with rubber extension piece);
Profiled pipes (3-6 cm) and aluminum straightedge (for smoothing the sand layer);
Rubber hammer (for fixing paving stones);
Paving grinder or guillotine (for cutting edges/curbs);
Broom (for filling the joints between the paving stones);
Level, theodolite (for establishing elevations, alignments).
Surface preparation
After the measurements are taken, the area is fenced off and covered by removing the soil layer (approx. 10-35 cm). For adequate drainage, the final surface must have a slight, flat slope.
The uncovered surface is filled with successive layers of ballast or crushed stone, which is compacted using a vibrating plate.
The thickness of the support layer depends on the specifics and usefulness of the work:
•Minimum 15 cm, for pedestrian access paths;
•Minimum 20 cm, for car traffic;
•Minimum 30 cm, in case of intense and heavy traffic (trucks).
Installing curbs
The curbs are installed after compacting the base layer by making the necessary excavation.
The curb heights will be transmitted using a level, and the alignments using a theodolite.
The curbs are mounted on a concrete foundation of approximately 10×15 cm for small curbs and 10×20 cm for roadway curbs.
It is subsequently reinforced on the side (at least one third of the curb height) to take over the forces transmitted by the pavement.
Leveling the sand bed
The pavers will be placed on a layer of sand that will help position them.
Generally, a 4-6 cm layer of sand with a grain size of 0-4 mm is needed, combined with gravel with a grain size of 8-16 mm.
It is easiest to do using parallel profiled pipes as a reference and a straightedge for evenly leveling the sand using left-right movements.
Installing pavers
The installation of pavers on the leveled sand surface must start either from a right 90° corner or from a straight line to avoid cutting operations.
The pavers are placed next to each other, ensuring that they are aligned. When laying, they should not be tilted, as this will destroy the leveling of the sand bed.
A rubber mallet can be used to adjust the pavers.
The installed surface can be walked on immediately. Don't forget to check the slope of the paving: minimum 2-2,5% for water drainage.
Applying sand between the joints and compacting
After installing the pavers over the entire surface, a thin layer of fine (0,2 mm) dry sand is spread using a broom to fill all the joints.
Remove excess sand and compact it using the vibrating plate (with the rubber extension piece).
Compact both longitudinally and transversely for optimal compaction. Repeat the sanding operation until the joints are completely filled.
For increased resistance, it can be wetted and left for 2-3 days until the excess sand is removed. This process will ensure the final fixation of the paving stones.
