Landscaping
Project Guide
Landscaping
Tools
Tools You Will Need for Installing Walls:
Pegs
Tape Measure
Level
Cord
Shovel
Safety Goggles
Sledge Hammer
Cold Chisel
Tamper
Rake
Concrete Adhesive
Landscape Fabric
Tools You Will Need for Installing Pavers:
Pegs
Tape Measure
Level
Cord
®®
Answers & Low Prices Down Every Aisle SM
Shovel
Safety Goggles
Rake
Broom
1” Wood Pieces and Straight Plank
Vibrating Plate (Rental)
F.A.Q.’s
Q. Can I install pavers myself?
A. Yes, you can install pavers yourself! The easiest types of pavers to install
are mortarless ones. All you need to do is prepare your base material, your
sand bedding, lay your pavers, and then sweep sand over the joints
filling them up.
Q. What is the base material made of?
A. The base material should be made of crushed stone. The crushed stones
should have varying sized particles and sharp edges, this makes for better
compaction. The better your base compacts together, the flatter your paved
surface will be.
Q. Will my pavers move or shift?
A. Ensuring that your pavers do not move or shift really lies in using a good
edge restraint. If you live in a hotter region, be sure to use a concrete edge
restraint, rather than a plastic type, which may buckle under extreme heat.
Q. Should I seal my pavers?
A. Sealing your pavers is not necessary, it is however recommended! The
reasons for this are that a sealed paver surface is much easier to clean, or
may even prevent staining. Also, sealing will enhance and maintain your
brightly colored pavers. Lastly, sealing your pavers will prevent the growth
of weeds in between your joints.
Q. Will weeds grow between the joints of my pavers?
A. By ensuring that your joints are completely filled up with sand, this will
help prevent the amount of weed seeds that fall between the joints. You can
also seal your pavers, which will coat the joints, making it impossible for
weeds to grow.
Q. What do I do if my pavers are stained?
A. There are a number of different cleaning solutions available on the
market. Whether it is an oil stain, grease and grime, rust, moss and algae, or
rubber marks, there is a product suitable for all stains.
Q. What happens if my pavers are chipped or damaged?
A. The great thing about pavers is that they are so easy to repair! They can be
pried out with the use of two screwdrivers and replaced with new ones.
This makes pavers a very cost efficient product, for there are no real
high costs involved in repairing.
Installing Wall Blocks
Project Calculator
Wall blocks are great for creating different levels in a landscape. Ideal for retaining walls, garden or flower beds, raised tree
rings, even benches and mail box pillars.
The amount of product you will
need depends on the size of
your project.
Step 1. Design It
Step 2. Dig Trench
Step 3. Prep Base
Mark the outline of your wall.
Dig a trench 4”-6” deep and
wide enough for your block.
Keep bottom flat.
Add a few inches of paver base
and compact with a tamper.
Keep it level.
Step 4. Lay Blocks
Step 5. Back Fill
The first layer or course is the
most important. Level the
blocks.
Add sand or loam behind the
wall as you finish each course
or row.
Step 6. Glue Top Course
For safety and long-lasting
wall, glue the last course with
paver cement.
Lodgestone
Wall Height
Wall Length - in feet
Castlewall
Wall Height
Wall Length - in feet
Rampart
Wall Height
Wall Length - in feet
(inches per Course)
3”
1 Course
6”
2 Courses
9”
3 Courses
12”
4 Courses
15” (max) 5 Courses
(inches per Course)
4”
1 Course
8”
2 Courses
12”
3 Courses
16”
4 Courses
20”
5 Courses
24” (max) 6 Courses
(inches per Course)
6”
1 Course
12”
2 Courses
18”
3 Courses
24”
4 Courses
30”
5 Courses
36” (max) 6 Courses
5’
8
16
24
32
40
5’
5
10
15
20
25
30
5’
4
8
12
16
20
24
10’
15
30
45
60
75
10’
10
20
30
40
50
60
10’
8
16
24
32
40
48
15’
23
46
69
92
115
15’
15
30
45
60
75
90
15’
12
24
36
48
60
72
20’
30
60
90
120
150
25’
38
76
114
152
190
30’
45
90
135
180
225
20’
20
40
60
80
100
120
25’
25
50
75
100
125
150
30’
30
60
90
120
150
180
20’
15
30
45
60
75
90
25’
19
38
57
76
95
114
30’
23
46
69
92
115
138
Formulas
You can figure the amount you need of any type of wall by using one of two formulas.
(1) Linear feet and courses
Examples - You want a wall 12 ft. long and 2 ft. high.
Castlewall - Linear feet: 1 X 12 ft. long = 12 pcs X 6 courses high = 72 pieces.
Rampart - Linear feet: .75 X 12 ft. long = 9 pcs X 4 courses high = 36 pieces.
(2) Prices per sq. ft.
(Calculate your square footage: Length - 12 feet X height 2 feet = 24 sq. ft.).
Castlewall - psf: 3 X 24 sq. ft. = 72 pieces.
Rampart -psf: 1.5 X 24 sq. ft. = 36 pieces.
FYI: Pieces per sq. ft. of face on a block is determined by multiplying height X
width of the block.
Example: Castlewall is 4” H X 12” W = 48”.
Divide 144” (1 sq. ft.) by 48” = 3 psf (pieces per sq. ft.).
Project Calculator
Installing Pavers
Calculate the square footage of your area - width X length
Walkway - 2 ft. wide X 5 ft. long = 10 sq. ft.
Patio - 10 ft. wide X 10 ft. long = 100 sq. ft.
Examples - Pieces Needed
Sq. Feet
of Patio or
Walkway
10
25
75
100
150
200
Holland
Paver
psf: 4.5
45
113
338
450
675
900
6x6
Square
psf: 4
40
100
300
400
600
800
6x9
Rectangle
psf: 2.6
26
65
195
260
390
520
Formulas - See product spec sheets for pieces per square foot (psf).
You can figure the amount you need for your project by
multiplying your total square feet x the psf of the paver.
Using Holland: 4.5 psf x 120 sq. feet = 540 pieces.
Holland
4.5 psf x______sq. feet = ______pieces
6x6 Paver
4 psf x______sq. feet = ______pieces
6x9 Paver
2.6 psf x______sq. feet = ______pieces
4 Cobble
2.25 psf x______sq. feet = ______pieces
Combining 6x6 and 6x9 pavers
6x6 square: ______sq. feet of project x 33% ______pieces
6x6 rectangle: ______sq. feet of project x 33% ______pieces
Here are a few samples of some popular paver patterns. You can
also install your pavers in random patterns.
Herringbone
Stack Bond
Running Bond
Herringbone Variation
Boxed Basketweave Running & Stacked Bond
Double Basketweave
Single Basketweave
Pavers and Stepping Stones are used for flat surface projects such as patios, walkways, pathways, etc.
The amount of product you will need depends on the size of your project.
Step 1. Design It
Step 2. Excavate
Step 3. Check Slope
Mark the area where your
pavers will go with stakes and
string.
Dig out an area 4”-6” deep
and remove dirt. Try to keep
bottom as level and hard as
you can.
Many pavements are sloped
at 2% or 1/4” per every foot of
pavement as this will better
facilitate drainage.
Step 4. Prep Base
Step 5. Lay Stones
Step 6. Sweep Sand
Add paver base and tamp.
Add paver sand and screed,
or level.
Lay them side-by-side.
Fill the joints between the
stones with paver sand by
sweeping some back and
fourth over the stones.
Project
Walkways
Ideas
Myths
About Pavers
Revealed
“Pavers are too costly.”
Retaining Walls
The cost to install Oldcastle® pavers and stones are similar in cost to
stamped concrete (when professionally installed). When installed yourself,
the cost drops dramatically! Additionally, landscaping, unlike drapes and
other expensive interior additions, can add an average of 15% to your
home’s value in curb appeal alone. Oldcastle ® pavers and stones are easy to
install, easy to remove for
repairing, and add a valuable
unique look to your home.
“Pavers won’t last.”
The life expectancy of Oldcastle ® pavers and stones is approximately 40 years
with little to NO maintenance if installed correctly.
“Pavers will become uneven.”
Outdoor Entertaining Spaces
If a base is installed properly the first time, it is unusual for it to shift much over
the lifetime of the pavers. In the event that some shifting does occur, pavers can
be easily repaired since they are set in a mortar-less system.
“Pavers complicate snow removal.”
Pavers can be cleared of snow with a regular plow or snow blade as the surface will
be even. Oldcastle ® pavers and stones have salt tolerances that make them hold
up better than concrete. Snow will melt faster because it can breathe through the
joints of the pavers. Water will also drain down so it will be less likely to be slick.
“We have too much freeze and thaw here.”
Flower Beds/ Raised Patios/ Benches and Sitting Areas
Pavers are actually suited much better than concrete in freeze and thaw since they
are flexible like asphalt. In Canada and many European countries that have a similar
climate they use little to no concrete since it will crack in freeze thaw climates.
“Pavers allow weeds between the spaces.”
Polymeric sand, which takes the place of regular sand has glue in the mix and will not allow weeds, insects or wash-out of
sand from between the joints.
“Pavers are difficult to repair.”
Pavers and stones can easily be removed one at a time and replaced with a new stone or paver. Patterns are usually very
easy to follow. It is actually much simpler to repair pavers and stones than it is concrete since it is a mortar-less system.