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DIY With WI

What is a Hybrid Base Construction for Paving Stone Installation?

DIY with WI

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In this article, we will look at Hybrid Base Construction—what it is, and the benefits and drawbacks of using it for your project.

What is a hybrid base construction?

A standard paver base consists of compacted gravel in the base layer and concrete sand in the bedding layer.

On the other hand, a permeable paver base uses a deeper porous drainage stone and installation methods for the bottom and ¼-10” as the bedding layer.  

A hybrid base, which we’re discussing in this article, uses the standard base construction in conjunction with permeable base bedding. In short, Hybrid Base Construction combines traditional and permeable base.

Benefits of a hybrid base

What are the benefits of installing a hybrid base for your pavers instead of the traditional base?

Easy to walk on

The way the hybrid base is structured makes it incredibly smooth for walking. The high compaction of the material makes it easier to walk on during installation. Not to mention less likely that the pavers shift around at any point.

Withstands the elements

If you live in an area (such as the PNW) with a wide variety of weather types, a hybrid base can be a good choice for your paver base. It will hold up in all sorts of weather, including heat, rain, and snow.

Easy to level

Ease of installation can be one of the most significant factors in deciding what base you want to use for your project. A hybrid base is effortless to level since it uses smaller stones as bedding for the pavers. A less back-breaking job is always a win.

Drawbacks of a hybrid base

Are there any downsides to installing a hybrid paver base? Let’s consider a few points before you decide to go with a hybrid base.

Concrete edge restraint is required

Concrete edge is a little more challenging to install but certainly not impossible. Because of the more versatile nature of a hybrid paver base, you have to go with a concrete edge restraint to keep everything in place. Perma Paver Edging is your best choice if you want a concrete edge.

Sourcing availability 

One downside to installing a hybrid base is that it may take longer to find the necessary supplies. It is usually easier to find regular concrete bedding sand than the ¼-10” sand required for a hybrid base.

Expense

Along with ¼-10” being hard to find comes some extra expense. Rock is more expensive than sand, and the concrete edge restraint can also incur more costs than the supplies for a standard paver base.

Get our Project Planning Guide

If you’re ready to start your paver project, this is the right place for you. Download our 19-page Project Planning Guide to get a breakdown of everything you need to know about your coming paver installation.

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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.

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Get a quote
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  • Hi, I'm
  • and I need
  • for my
  • . I'm interested in
  • and I want to
  • . I live in
  • ,
  • and you can reach me at
  • or
  • .
  • If you’re located outside of our service areas (CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, UT), please call 503-623-9084 to get recommendations on where to purchase your pavers.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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