Ensuring Straight Lines in Paver Projects Without String Lines
Hardscape almost always means straight lines. If not a straight pattern of pavers, most hardscape installations have at least some straight edges. If you’ve done a DIY hardscape project before, you likely have had to try hard to make sure your edges are straight.
One of the most common ways of making paver edges straight is by using string lines. However, using string lines can also create some problems for you. If your string line is not perfectly straight, you may follow it closely but still end up with a crooked hardscape.
In this blog post, we discuss some steps to ensure your hardscape is as straight as possible—without string lines.
· 2 minutes
DIY with WI
We’re here to help you take the hard out of hardscaping.
The first step to ensuring straight lines on your pavers is establishing a plan and design before you begin installation. Sketch out your design on paper, and carefully mark a guide on the ground with chalk before you begin. Make sure you have calculated and measured as accurately as you can.
Choose the right pavers
As you go through the planning process, make sure the pavers you decide to use are high quality and from a reliable company. Low-quality pavers may have some variation or unevenness and can negatively impact your final result.
The shape and size of your pavers can also impact the straightness of your paving lines. Make sure to factor in the dimensions of your particular pavers as you calculate before you begin installation.
Set a solid foundation
Once you begin installing your pavers, make sure that the base you prepare underneath them is conducive to straight lines. Level and compact your base so that the pavers on top can be straight and even.
You should also implement some kind of edge restraint to keep your pavers in place and prevent wobbling or shifting. Click here to read about how to make a proper base for your pavers.
Align each paver carefully
Once you begin installing the paving stones, establish fixed points to judge how straight your pavers are. As you lay down each new block, look carefully at the pavers you have installed already.
We also recommend that you use spacers to make sure that the pavers are uniformly spaced and straight.
Correct as you go
Check paver alignment regularly as you install. If necessary, adjust the pavers as you go to have a consistent final result.
Joint sand and seal to finish
Finally, as you wrap up your paver project, make sure that you follow the necessary finishing touches so that your hardscape will last a long time and maintain its original shape and charm.
Fill each joint with a joint sand, and then seal the pavers once you have finished to lock in the straight lines that you have worked hard to establish.
Choosing a paver can sure feel overwhelming. You have to consider size, style, thickness, color, and more. That’s why we made a short and simple quiz that asks a few questions about what you’re looking for and, at the end, provides a recommendation, or two, you can start with.