How to Enlarge a Concrete Patio With Pavers

Sometimes the basic concrete patio that comes with a home just isn't big enough for entertaining, but adding onto concrete with more concrete is an undertaking you may not be willing to delve into. That's where pavers come in handy. Premade and easy to work with, pavers come in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns to fit in with all sorts of landscaping designs. Adding them to edges of a pre-existing concrete surface helps you gain the space you require to enjoy outdoor living.

Pavers

Wood stakes

Twine

Hammer

Shovel

Gravel

Compactor

Landscape edging

Sand

Spacers

Level

Rubber mallet

Broom

Watering hose

Set a row of pavers out on each side of the existing patio to gauge how much bigger you want to make the surface area, then play with the paver arrangements until you see the shape and size you desire. Don't forget to account for the 1/4-inch gap between pavers! Use wood stakes and twine to mark the new area and set aside the pavers.

Dig out any landscaping and grass around the patio and set it aside for use in other areas of the yard. Dig the area down to the height of the paver plus 6 inches.

Fill in the dug area with 2 inches of gravel, then compact it. Walk a compactor back and forth of the gravel in rows, going over the entire area twice. Repeat this process, making for a total of 4 inches of gravel.

Set landscape edging along the inside dirt walls of the dug area. To anchor it, tap the spikes that come with the edging into the soil on the outside of the paver area.

Fill the paver area with 2 inches of sand and repeat the compacting procedure.

Place a paver on the sand next to the patio edge. The paver should be just slightly proud of the concrete patio. If it is too low, add sand to the area until the paver is even with the concrete. Most patios are not flush with the ground, so odds are that you will need to add 1/4 to 1/2 inch of sand to level the pavers with the patio. If you add sand, repeat the compacting to firm up the surface.

Place pavers on the sand, starting at one corner of the patio. Set the pavers in rows, leaving 1/4-inch gaps between them. Use spacers if necessary to maintain uniform gaps. Tap each paver lightly with a rubber mallet to "set" it into place.

Keep the pavers level as you place them. Tap a paver down into the sand harder if you find it is built a little higher; add sand underneath if one is thinner than the rest. Continue placing pavers until the area is filled.

If you used spacers, remove them now. Spread additional sand over the paver surface and sweep it around, working it into the gaps. Spray the the surface lightly with water to settle the sand. Add more sand to finish filling the gaps completely.