The Paver Installation Process Explained
If you have never had pavers installed before, the process can seem mysterious. You see a crew show up, dig out your yard, and a few days later you have a finished patio or walkway. But there is a precise sequence of steps behind every professional paver installation, and understanding them helps you prepare your property, set realistic expectations for timeline and disruption, and evaluate whether your contractor is doing the job correctly. This guide walks through each phase of a typical residential paver installation on Long Island, from the first consultation to project completion.
Phase 1: On-Site Consultation and Design
Every paver project begins with an on-site consultation. A project estimator visits your property to measure the area, evaluate the existing grade, inspect drainage conditions, identify any underground utilities or irrigation lines, and discuss your design preferences. On Long Island, soil conditions vary significantly from one neighborhood to the next. A home in Commack may sit on sandy loam while a property in Dix Hills could have heavier clay content. Both influence how the base is designed and how drainage is managed. The consultation is also when you select your paver material, color, pattern, and border treatment.
After the site visit, you receive a written proposal that details the scope of work, materials, timeline, and cost. For most residential patio and walkway projects in the Huntington and Smithtown area, proposals are delivered within a few business days of the site visit. Once you approve the proposal and schedule a start date, the team orders your paver materials and begins preparing the project plan.
Phase 2: Site Preparation and Excavation
On the first day of active work, the crew marks the project layout using stakes, string lines, and marking paint. The area is then excavated to the required depth, which on Long Island is typically 8 to 10 inches below the finished grade for a patio and 12 to 14 inches for a driveway. Excavation removes topsoil, roots, and any organic material that could decompose and cause settling. The excavated soil is either spread on your property (with your approval) or hauled away. This is the messiest phase of the project, and you should expect some noise, dust, and equipment in your yard.
- A small to mid-size excavator or skid steer is typically used for patios larger than 200 square feet.
- For narrow walkway projects, excavation may be done by hand with shovels and a plate compactor.
- Underground utility lines (electric, gas, cable, irrigation) are located and marked before any digging begins.
- Expect excavation to take one day for a typical 300 to 500 square foot patio.
Phase 3: Base Installation and Compaction
The base is the most critical component of any paver installation. Without a properly constructed base, pavers will shift, settle unevenly, and develop trip hazards within a few years, regardless of how expensive the pavers are. On Long Island, the standard base consists of processed gravel, typically 3/4-inch crusher run or recycled concrete aggregate, installed in lifts and compacted with a vibratory plate compactor. Each lift is roughly 2 to 3 inches of loose material, compacted down to about 1.5 to 2 inches. The total compacted base depth is usually 6 to 8 inches for patios and 10 to 12 inches for driveways.
During compaction, the crew establishes the finish grade and slope. The surface must slope away from your home at a minimum of 1/4 inch per foot to ensure water drains properly. On Long Island properties where drainage is a concern, which is common in low-lying areas of Smithtown and Commack, additional measures like a perforated drain pipe at the base level or grading to a specific discharge point may be incorporated. This phase typically takes one to two days depending on the project size and soil conditions.
Phase 4: Bedding Sand and Edge Restraints
Once the gravel base is compacted and graded, a layer of bedding sand is spread over the surface. This layer is typically 1 inch of coarse, angular concrete sand, screeded to a precise, uniform thickness using rails and a straightedge. The bedding sand provides a smooth setting bed for the pavers and allows for minor height adjustments during installation. At this stage, edge restraints are also installed. These are typically heavy-duty plastic or aluminum strips secured with 10-inch spikes driven into the compacted base. Edge restraints hold the perimeter pavers in place and prevent the entire installation from creeping outward over time.
Phase 5: Paver Placement and Cutting
This is the phase homeowners look forward to most, because it is when the project transforms visually. Pavers are laid on the bedding sand according to the chosen pattern, starting from a fixed reference point, usually a straight edge like your home foundation or a string line. Each paver is placed snugly against its neighbor with a small joint gap maintained by the built-in spacer nibs on the paver sides. The crew works outward from the starting point, filling the field area before addressing cuts along curves, edges, and obstructions.
Cuts are made with a gas-powered masonry saw or a hydraulic paver splitter. Curved edges, radius cuts around light posts, and angled cuts at property borders require careful measurement and produce some dust and noise. An experienced crew places and cuts pavers quickly, and a typical 400-square-foot patio can be fully laid in one day. Larger projects, complex patterns like herringbone, or designs with multiple colors and borders take longer.
Phase 6: Compaction, Joint Sand, and Final Details
After all pavers are placed and cut, the entire surface is compacted with a plate compactor fitted with a rubber or neoprene pad to protect the paver faces. This step seats the pavers firmly into the bedding sand and locks them at a uniform height. Next, polymeric sand is swept into the joints. Polymeric sand is a specially engineered product that hardens when activated with water, binding the pavers together, preventing weed growth in the joints, and resisting washout from rain. The sand is swept, blown, and then misted with water to activate the polymers.
- The crew performs a thorough cleanup, removing all excess sand, debris, and construction materials from your property.
- Any disturbed landscaping adjacent to the work area is regraded and restored.
- Edge restraints are backfilled with soil or mulch to conceal them from view.
- You receive a walkthrough of the finished installation and any care instructions for the first few weeks after installation.
Timeline and What to Plan For
A standard paver patio installation on Long Island, in the range of 300 to 600 square feet, typically takes 3 to 5 working days from excavation to completion. Walkway projects are often completed in 2 to 3 days. Larger projects or those involving significant grading, drainage, or retaining walls can extend to one to two weeks. Weather can affect the schedule, particularly heavy rain, which delays excavation and base compaction. Your contractor should communicate any weather-related schedule changes in advance.
During the project, expect some disruption to your normal yard access. Equipment, material pallets, and debris will temporarily occupy portions of your driveway, yard, or both. If you have pets, they should be kept away from the work area. Let your contractor know about any scheduled events, sprinkler systems, or access needs ahead of time so the crew can plan around them.
Questions to Ask Before Your Installation Begins
- What is the total compacted base depth for my project, and does it account for my soil type?
- How will water be directed away from my home and off the paver surface?
- What brand and type of polymeric sand will be used in the joints?
- Are edge restraints included, and what material are they made from?
- What happens if rain delays the project? Is there a plan for protecting the open excavation?
- Is there a warranty on the installation workmanship in addition to the paver manufacturer warranty?
Brothers Paving & Masonry handles paver installations across Commack, Smithtown, Huntington, Dix Hills, and all of Long Island. We walk every customer through the process before work begins, maintain clear communication throughout the project, and stand behind our installations with a workmanship warranty. Call (631) 374-9796 to schedule your free consultation and get a detailed proposal for your paver project.