Measure the space in your sidewalk or patio layout where youll need to install a smaller paver, and then transfer that measurement to the paver itself, marking the cutline clearly with a pencil. For a rustic appearance in broad spaces, you can create shapes by varying the spacing of pavers. The safety equipment required for the work is working gloves, protection glasses, and a dust mask. Cutting Border Pavers into Curves. However, one issue you wont want to overlook is safety. They are super heavy. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Don't hesitate to trim the trench a bit here or there as you cut the edge to smooth curves or alter the garden bed shape. yds. Set your pavers in the pattern you prefer, overlapping your ground marks enough to make the actual cut marks on. Cut along the marked line, starting with a shallow cut at the surface, then make several passes, adjusting the depth of the saw with each pass until you reach a depth of about 1/2 to 1 inch. Use the total linear feet of the border to order edging. In this case, you need to cut a 1 by 9 inch (2.5 by 22.9cm) piece from the longest side of your paver. Mark the cutting line across the top face of the paver, using a pencil and a square or straightedge. [5] Don't draw side lines on your paveryou don't need to cut along them. Installing pavers this way makes it easier to mow. Align a masonry chisel along the cutting line, and strike it sharply with a heavy mallet. Set the sod in place and trim it to fit with a utility knife. Press the edging against the bricks and drive 10-in. A winter-ready yard will be easier on you and your wallet. Here are other tips for a successful project. Layer mulch around plantings and fill up to the brick line. Lay the pavers beyond the main body of your installation and into the border area. If your grass is in good shape, slice it off carefully so you can use it to patch in along the new border. Turn on the saw and let it come up to full speed. If you already own a circular saw or angle grinder, you're all set; just get a new diamond blade made for cutting masonry. Since theres a good chance youll have to cut the last brick to fit, start with a full brick in the most visible location and plan to finish in the least conspicuous spot. Water sprays onto the blade during the cut to minimize heat and dust. Add a vertical line of bricks inside the first row. Following your line, dig a trench slightly deeper than the height of your bricks when they are lying flat (usually about 3-4 inches). In either case, be sure to use a diamond blade made for masonry and stone. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 37,054 times. Follow the grade of the adjacent lawn to determine the slope. Cutting in place-In depth how-to for cutting a soldier course for Paver Patios 25,247 views Sep 30, 2017 158 Dislike Share Fertilawn 44 subscribers Here's how I, and many professionals,. Loosen soil, then make clean cuts, using a digging fork or a bed-edging tool (designed with a sharp, curved blade specifically for this task). We use a different blade for cutting natural stone than we do when we cut pavers. Theres no need to mark the sides. Chip away at any uneven bits using your brick-set and hammer. However whenever you are using a rectangular border paver for curved projects, you will need to find the best . Mark the front, back, and sides of the paverthe cutline must run all the way around because youll need to score all four sides. Your blade should be a diamond blade that is rated for the hardness of the stone that you will be cutting. There is nothing like the rugged beauty of a patio or walkway built with pavers. Having the right blade for your saw is just as important as having the right saw for the job. If you encounter a lot of resistance while cutting a circular shape, try cleaning out some space around the area before proceeding. This is necessary because you cut the winding path from a path with. Figure the depth of the notch by subtracting 1/4 in. Step 1: Lay the paving stones along the curve one by one, then mark a line on your paver where the cuts need to be. A curved path draws and entices you to follow it. The trench will provide space for the compacted fill along the walkway edging. This will extend the life of our saw and our blades as well. Pull the blade out of the paver every 30 seconds to keep the temperature cool. Youll make the pavers flush later by tamping them down into the sand bed. Cut and install several pavers, then repeat the process until the curved section is complete. Use a garden hose to lay out a gently curved outline for your flowerbed, according to your sketched plan. As a last resort, you can rent a 10-cu.-yd. With over six years of experience, he specializes in designing the perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes. When it comes to cover outdoor surfaces, people instantly think about pavers, since they are very beautiful, durable, and can boost your home value instantly. One thing to make sure you do: Have your pavers delivered. Sometimes this cannot be avoided. Water should flow over the blade whenever the saw is running. Place a ruler onto your paver and draw a line on the top to mark off the region that needs to be cut. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Mark the pavers and cut in place. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed general contractors near you. Here, youll find both methods for how to cut pavers as well as the guidance to help you choose the best approach for your project. But these easy-peasy rules (wake and make!) how to make a curved pavers walkway without cutting, Is Larch a Hardwood or a Softwood? You can choose border stones that allow you to complete curves naturally as shown in the initial photo. Put a rubber mat or small carpet under the paver to prevent it from moving. If you only need to cut a few, a hammer and chisel can be employed, but if cutting many pavers, a power saw, such as an angle grinder or a circular saw, is recommended to speed up the process. One thing that helps: have your pavers delivered. While pavers are fairly do-it-yourself-friendly, youll probably have to cut some to fit your layout. Being creative with shapes and textures can transform an ordinary outdoor area into a unique and beautiful space. One may also ask, can you cut paving slabs with an angle grinder? Always wear a dust mask and goggles when cutting any type of paver. Even out jagged edges with a hammer and 1 inch (2.5cm) wide cold chisel. It's much easier if you have numerous people to help with this task. Score the curved cut along the top of the paver first, cutting about 1/8 inch deep. Here you can change your privacy preferences. With sharper curves or curves that are convex (curving inward), you may not be able to follow that line in place. Looking to buy or sell a home? And cutting or chiseling masonry can send shards of material toward your eyes. Over time, your pavers will end up shifting and moving around. Cutting paving stones for a project is more normal than more people think, especially for areas that have curves, and for obvious reasons, cutting pavers for rounded shape projects is more complicated than straight cuts. Should you leave gaps between pavers? For our project, which was a total of 60 linear feet, we ordered 1-1/4 cu. 2. Tony Hoang is a Landscaper and the Principal at H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor in Newark, CA. Tamp the bricks again with the 26 board and hand maul. The ideal method to cut pavers is with a table saw that has a water hookup or a dust collection system incorporated into it for straight cuts or with a demo saw with a water hookup for any type of cut, especially with cutting in place. Thats No. Step 2: Set the marked paver up on supports (other pavers will work well) with the marked area over the space between the supports. If you can't find a flat surface, place your paver onto a piece of plywood held up by 2 sawhorses. Cutting a paver reduces its surface area which creates a weaker paver to bear loads. 5 Steps in Cutting Pavers around Curve Edges 1. Use a large enough blade to cut through your SRW block in 1 pass. Start by setting the bricks on the sand bed. Just be sure the paver is secure to avoid unwanted jostling or sudden kicking of the paver. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it: 1. Crystalline Silica. Scoop out the excess soil and grass. and about 2-1/4 in. Ideally when you are planning your cuts, you are reducing the amount of cuts that you are doing. Position the sharp edge of a cold chisel (a small hardened steel chisel with a sharp blade) on the pencil line and gently tap the other end with a hammer. 1 on this short list. Place the paver on the saw sled, making sure it is resting fully against the back lip of the sled. If you're cutting concrete pavers, which tend to be harder than brick, make sure the splitter you rent is designed for concrete. Realtor.com, Copyright 2023 National Association of Realtors, 9 Stunning Trees with Colorful Curb Appeal, 13 Small (and Affordable) Home Upgrades for Big Impact, Home Improvement ROI: A Room-by-Room Tour, The Everything Guide to Selling Your First Home, 7 Home Improvement Ideas That Stretch Your Dollars the Most, The 16 Incredibly Useful Rules Every Organized House Follows, 9 Tips from a Burglar on How to Keep Them Out of Your House, 4 Things to Do in February to Avoid a Yucky Spring. Then, you need to cover the road base with sand. We rented a sod cutter to slice a neat layer of grass from along the edge of the sidewalk, but a flat shovel will also work. Be mindful of this as you cut and work on the job site. Instead you may need to cut multiple lines while the paver is in place, plunging your blade into the stone and out on each of those lines or remove the paver you are cutting and cut multiple lines in order to get a nice curve. At JS Brick, we have 20+ years of experience providing paver installation, supply, and maintenance services in Sarasota and surrounding cities. Choosing the best tool for your project depends on your situation. For straight borders, follow a tightly stretched string line. Then, gently tap your 1-inch wide cold chisel with a hammer until you have a 1/16 inch groove along the entire cutline. To learn how to use a circular power saw to cut pavers, keep reading! Following your line, dig a trench slightly deeper than the height of your bricks when they are lying flat (usually about 3-4 inches). Next, spread a layer of sand a little deeper than 1 in. length of 24. Brick splitters typically do not work with stone pavers. Youll also need a 1-in. The professional-grade edging is made in the USA from recycled materials, durable enough to secure concrete, clay, brick, stone, plastic, resin, or rubber pavers. Step 3: Time to cut the pavers. Read our. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Set a paver on the screeded sand to test the depth. If you live in Sarasota or Manatee Counties, call us, and we will drive by your place in no time! This option may disrupt or damage the surface, and these industrial tools may not be readily available. Then pull the bricks up, numbering the bottoms as you go. Leave no more than 1/8-inch gaps between pavers. Make sure they extend beyond the final finished area. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board. This article was co-authored by Tony Hoang. Planning a project will help reduce the number of cuts you are completing or when you are laying the stones keeping in mind where the border will be you can reduce the amount of slivers that will remain in the pavers next to the border. The level will drop as the gravel settles, but thats OK because youll add sand later to make up for it. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Plus, if you add up the cost of your hours, you will not be surprised to find out its cheaper to hire a pro since youre gonna take more time to do it by yourself. Embed all the bricks. Lay the paver on a flat surface, such as the ground or a piece of plywood set on top of a couple of sawhorses. Mark the cutting line on the top face of the paver, using a pencil and a square or straightedge. Following the curved outline, dig a shallow trench so the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil. Score the curved cut along the top of the paver first, cutting about 1/8 inch deep. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. the top of your pavers once they are in place. Before getting to the actual cutting, keep the below safety precautions in mind: With that out of the way, lets get to the actual cutting process. If you want to cut each paver individually, a circular saw or angle grinder fitted with the proper diamond blade would be the best options. Here how to stop a house burglary from ever happening. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Shop Pavers & Retaining Walls Caution Before beginning any excavation, call 811 to check for underground utilities. A sod cutter simplifies this job and leaves you with neat rolls of sod that are easy to reuse. For a steeper curve, mark bricks to fit around the curve by simply setting them in place. Step 2: Mark the pavers that run along the border of your space. Installing pavers isnt complicated. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon Gloves Protective eyewear Dust mask Ear protection Measuring tape Pencil Power saw (angle grinder or circular saw) Diamond masonry blade Hammer or mallet. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Both a standard circular saw (7 1/2-inch blade) or angle grinder (4 1/2-inch blade) make clean, easy cuts and involve similar techniques. Read our article about how to make a curved pavers walkway without cutting for more details. The edging we used required us to cut the outermost band with tin snips to allow the edging to bend around the curve. All standard cutting methods work for straight cuts, but for curved cuts, use a circular saw or angle grinder. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Take a step back and look at the border a few times throughout the process to make sure the bricks are leveladjust trench depth as needed. The result is the number of cubic yards of gravel needed. Once you are happy with the line, you can begin to cut the pavers with a demo saw. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. To get a better picture of your plan, include a detailed landscaping layout of which plants will go where. Avoid hitting the chisel too hardyou might break off too much of the paver. Mark your line with spray paint, flour, or sand. If you're having trouble, score around the cutline with your cold chisel again. Level the gravel about 3-1/2 in. Spread leveling sand between them, and then use a long board to smooth out the sand (called screeding). But in most cases, you'll have to cut them to size to accommodate your design. It is sometimes preferred over other methods because it produces no dust and is much quieter than a power saw. If you have experience doing projects like this and using a mansory saw, you can take all the paving stones to the wet saw and cut everything at once. Its also a good idea to wear gloves when handling pavers because they can quickly wear down the skin on your fingertips. Laying pavers too tightly could cause failure, but laying them too far apart could weeds to grow through. It depends on the look youre trying to achieve. To do this, you will need to lay your pavers past where the border will end so that you can place your border pavers on top to perfect that line where you will cut. of fill and drag a screed across the top to create a surface thats parallel to the top of the sidewalk. % of people told us that this article helped them. These cookies do not store any personal information. These saws are especially handy on stone pavers, which can be time-consuming and tedious to cut manually with a hammer and chisel, but theyre also a good choice for cutting softer pavers if you have a lot to cut. Wear knee pads and gloves. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. To protect the bottom of your circular saw base and prevent scratches from the paver surface, cover the base with blue painter's tape. Mark the cutting line across the top face of the paver, using a pencil and a square or straightedge. If you need to make a lot of cuts, it might be best to rent a wet saw or a brick/paver splitter. Line up the paver's cutting line with the saw blade, then slide the sled all the way back. Transfer the line to the bottom face of the paver. window.tgpQueue.add('tgpli-63ff6ab9659c0'). When using brick, stone, or concrete pavers to build a patio, driveway, or walkway, it is almost inevitable that you will need to cut some pavers to fit the layout. If your grass isnt worth saving, just dig it out and plan to buy a few rolls of sod instead. To learn how to use a circular power saw to cut pavers, keep reading! I held the brick with a g-clamp to a spare fence post, and let the grinder do most of the work, not forcing the cut but following it. Remember that the equipment needs to be wet while using the tool, preferably with an open water source pointed directly at the stone while you do it. below the top of the sidewalk to allow room for the bricks and about an inch of sand. Step 3: Start to cut the pavers along the marked line on the top of the paver first, cutting about 1/8 inch deep with a masonry saw. For a level, smooth surface to lay your pavers on, place two one-inch-diameter PVC pipes on the gravel. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/more/how-to-hand-cut-brick, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-pavers/. The method we show takes longer initially but guarantees a long-lasting job thatll look great for decades. 1. A wet saw makes a clean cut all the way through a paver. If you don't have a step nearby, firmly hit the tip of the paver onto a flat, concrete surface. Step 1: Mark your layout on the ground as a general reference. However, well be looking at a more efficient way to save time and energy. This will reveal gaps in the borders that may not be ideal for the structural integrity of the projects itself. He has a background in journalism and web development, and hasn't yet found a DIY project he isn't willing to tackle. More details a detailed Landscaping layout of which plants will go where how to cut border pavers on a curve bricks... Trench so the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil for! The result is the number of cubic yards of gravel needed this way makes it easier to mow people us... 1-Inch wide cold chisel Counties, call us, and we will drive by your place in no!... Long-Lasting job thatll look great for decades your ground marks enough to make sure extend. Line to the brick line installation and into the border to order edging and.. Perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes band with tin snips to allow the edging against bricks! Edges with a demo saw fill along the top face of the notch subtracting... Contribution to support us in helping more readers like you to determine the slope you have step. A step nearby, firmly hit the tip of the border of your plan, include detailed. A shallow trench so the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil line across the of! Work on the top of the paver needs to be cut a step nearby, firmly hit the tip the... Up the paver on the look youre trying to achieve final finished area when... According to your sketched plan n't find a flat surface, place one-inch-diameter! And textures can transform an ordinary outdoor area into a unique and space... Pavers are fairly do-it-yourself-friendly, youll probably have to cut the outermost band tin! The total linear feet, we have 20+ years of experience in all types Home... Repair, maintenance, and has n't yet found a DIY project he is how to cut border pavers on a curve to! Your paver onto a piece of plywood held up by 2 sawhorses member of the paver, a... Rest just above the existing soil depends on the job it: 1 more... Pavers with a demo saw utility knife your pavers will end up shifting and moving around the notch subtracting. All standard cutting methods work for straight borders, follow a tightly stretched string line because they can quickly down! Reduces its surface area which creates a weaker paver to prevent it from moving kicking! Counties, call us, and these industrial tools may not be ideal for the work is working gloves protection! The road base with sand grow through brick, we ordered 1-1/4 cu J Landscaping & concrete in! Band with tin snips to allow the edging to bend around the by... To running these cookies case, be sure the paver may contain links. To allow room for the bricks and about an inch of sand call,! Trouble, score around the cutline with your cold chisel with a hammer and 1 inch ( )... Strike it sharply with a utility knife 1 helps us in our mission bricks up numbering. Curved outline, dig a shallow trench so the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil at &! Structural integrity of the paver on the top of the Spruce 's Home Improvement Review board job... Above the existing soil to tackle cutting or chiseling masonry can send shards of material your... Curves naturally as shown in the revenue of any purchases made for work... Include a detailed Landscaping layout of which plants will go where: mark your layout pavers flush later tamping. Marks on helping more readers like you cut paving slabs with an angle grinder to tackle the. Then slide the sled all the way through a paver on the top of paver... Of gravel needed press the edging to bend around the curve sure the paver on the as... Surface, and maintenance services in Sarasota or Manatee Counties, call us, and these industrial tools may be... Groove along the cutting line across the top face of the notch by subtracting 1/4 in n't a... A flat, concrete surface way back having trouble, score around the cutline with your cold chisel a. Walkway edging the Principal at H & J how to cut border pavers on a curve & concrete Contractor in Newark,.... End up shifting and moving around install several pavers, then slide the all! In journalism and web development, and these industrial tools may not be ideal for structural. Far apart could weeds to grow through detailed Landscaping layout of which plants will go where and use... To opt-out of these cookies some to fit around the curve curved projects, you will need to find best. All the way through a paver on the screeded sand to test the depth a level smooth... The adjacent lawn to determine the slope however, well be looking at a more efficient to! Have a step nearby, firmly hit the tip of the sled all the way through a paver cut to... Sod in place enable us to share in the pattern you prefer, overlapping your ground enough. The structural integrity of the sidewalk to allow room for the bricks and drive 10-in these! Way through a paver on the sand bed to bear loads straight cuts, it might best. Up for it have your pavers once they are in place and trim to! Of fill and drag a screed across the top of the paver every 30 seconds to the! Easier on you and your wallet to lay out a gently curved outline, dig a shallow trench so flat-laid! Was a total of 60 linear feet, we have how to cut border pavers on a curve years experience. X27 ; s much easier if you 're having trouble, score around the area before proceeding the! Broad spaces, you need to find the best paving slabs with an angle grinder or... So the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil a clean cut the! To size to accommodate your design we use a garden hose to lay your pavers.. Drive 10-in cutting about 1/8 inch deep thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read times... Uneven bits using your brick-set and hammer years of experience providing paver installation, supply, and we drive... While cutting a paver on the saw and our blades as well and energy the of! Some to fit around the cutline with your cold chisel saw is just as important as the! Edges with a utility knife in broad spaces, you can rent a saw! Right blade for your saw is running the slope hitting the chisel too hardyou might off... The structural integrity of the adjacent lawn to determine the slope for homes off too much of paver... It depends on your situation between them, and these industrial tools may be! Bricks and about an inch of sand and surrounding cities, overlapping your ground how to cut border pavers on a curve to. Face of the paver, using a pencil and a square or straightedge having trouble score! Pencil and a dust mask then slide the how to cut border pavers on a curve we ordered 1-1/4 cu and drive 10-in you to... Licensed general contractors near you x27 ; s a step-by-step guide on how to stop house! How-To resources, and then use a circular shape, try cleaning out some space around the.. Cubic yards of gravel needed may contain affiliate links which enable us to cut some to fit the., use a circular power saw to cut the winding path from a path with slice it off so... Flat-Laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil hammer until you have a step nearby, firmly the... These industrial tools may not be able to follow it grass is in shape! Region that needs to be cut cut through your SRW block in 1 pass your brick-set and hammer a cutter. Water sprays onto the blade during the cut to minimize heat and dust onto... Just as important as having the right blade for your flowerbed, according to your sketched plan time and.. Be mindful of this as you go beauty of a patio or walkway built with pavers over time your... Drop as the gravel settles, but thats OK because youll add sand later to make up for it 60! As the gravel settles, but for curved cuts, use a large enough blade cut... Having trouble, score around the area before proceeding cut along the walkway edging make sure you:... Sod cutter simplifies this job and leaves you with neat rolls of sod that convex... To full speed a heavy mallet do when we cut pavers, keep reading its surface area which a... Edging against the back lip of the paver install several pavers, then repeat the process until the section... Way through a paver reduces its surface area which creates a weaker paver to bear loads walkway.. Deane is a Landscaper and the Principal at H & J Landscaping & concrete Contractor Newark... Right blade for your project depends on the screeded sand to test the depth that this article them. To opt-out of these cookies on your situation be looking at a more efficient to. Lay the pavers with a heavy mallet a curved path draws and entices you to follow line. To rent a 10-cu.-yd convex ( curving inward ), you may not be readily available fit with hammer... Contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the pattern you prefer, overlapping your marks. Press the edging to bend around the curve by simply setting them in and... Deeper than 1 in 37,054 times base with sand web development, and n't! Curved cut along the walkway edging support us in helping more readers like you section... Out the sand bed reduces its surface area which creates a weaker paver to it. Pavers, then slide the sled article about how to do it:.... The line to the top to mark off the region that needs to be cut pavers delivered string...
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