We’ve finally arrived at one of the more fun parts of installing a patio — tonight we actually started laying the pavers.
— pavers are set on top of a 1-inch layer of sand
To get that one inch layer exact, DIY Guy had to screed the sand.
Don’t feel bad, until the other day, I had never heard the word before either.
Here’s the dictionary definition…
screed (skrēd) n.
- A strip of wood, plaster, or metal placed on a wall or pavement as a guide for the even application of plaster or concrete.
- A layer or strip of material used to level off a horizontal surface such as a floor.
- A smooth final surface of a substance, such as concrete, applied to a floor.
Those two white strips in the sand are really one inch thick pvc pipe. We dumped sand between the strips and screeded the sand to a one inch thickness with a 2×4. Did you know a 2×4 is really 1.5 x 3.5 inches? I’m full of all kinds of DIY information these days – it’s like I’m married to a DIYer or something.
DIY Guy did the screeding, then started cutting a few pavers to line things up along the driveway perfectly. While he cut pavers, Number one son started laying the pavers in a random pattern.
There are 3 different size pavers and we have to install them in a 3-2-2 ratio…which at first was frustrating and exhausting. Then we developed a system…and it was smooth sailing…I mean paving.
All those years of building with Duplos and Legos developed a natural ability and skill for laying patio pavers. Number One Son was truly amazing. At times I could barely get the set of 2 large, 3 medium, and 2 small pavers to him fast enough.
We worked til dark tonight….which was about 9:30 pm.
DIY Guy asked the boy tonight if his back hurt from the work yesterday. He said “no”. Oh for a young back again! So much for 50 being the new 40!
