How We Turned Glen-Gery Pavers Into a Beautiful DIY Patio

1. Plan and mark your space

Start by deciding your patio size—in our case, 18 by 20 feet. Measure carefully and mark the perimeter with stakes and string.

Take your time here. Getting the corners square and lines straight from the beginning saves a lot of fixing later.

2. Excavate the area

Dig down about 6–8 inches across the entire footprint.

This depth gives you room for a gravel base, sand layer, and pavers. Use a flat spade to cut clean edges and remove sod neatly.

Yes, this is the hardest part physically—but it’s also what makes everything else stable.

3. Deal with the “excavation aftermath”

You’ll end up with a lot of soil.

We reused ours to fill bare patches in the yard and cover old garden areas. And yes—if your property is older, you might find a few surprises.

We pulled up marbles, pottery bits, and even a 1902 dime. Not required, but definitely entertaining.

4. Install weed barrier

Lay weed barrier fabric across the entire excavated area.

This adds a second line of defense against weeds pushing up through the joints later.

5. Build and compact the gravel base

Add about 4 inches of crushed gravel in layers.

Compact each layer using a plate compactor. Don’t skip this or rush it—this base is what prevents sinking and shifting over time, especially through freeze-thaw cycles.

After compaction:

• Check level with a 6-foot level
• Adjust low or high spots before moving on

A solid base here = long-lasting patio.

6. Set your screed guide height

Run a string line across the area about 3¼ inches above the compacted gravel.

This becomes your reference height for the sand layer so everything ends up perfectly flush once the pavers go in.

It’s a small step—but it makes the next stage way more precise.

7. Add and screed bedding sand

Spread about 1 inch of coarse sand over the gravel.

Use PVC pipes as rails and drag a straight 2x4 across them to screed the sand smooth and level.

This layer is what lets you fine-tune each paver as you place it. Take your time and keep it consistent.

If you mess up an area, just re-add sand and re-screed—it’s forgiving if you stay patient.

8. Lay the paver pattern

We used Plum Plaza Pavers from Glen-Gery and went with:

• Basket weave in the center
• Soldier course border around the edge

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We started by locking in the border first in an L-shape, then worked inward from one corner.

Every few rows:

• Check level across the surface
• Tap high pavers down gently with a rubber mallet

Because we planned dimensions carefully, we didn’t need to cut a single paver—which made everything faster and cleaner.

What I really love about these was that they're clay pavers made from natural material, just clay and water.

And living here in Pennsylvania with harsh winters, the freeze and thaw resistance and salt durability was a huge selling point for us. 

9. Sweep in polymeric sand

Once all pavers are set:

• Sweep polymeric sand across the surface
• Work it deep into all joints with a push broom

• Compact the surface lightly to settle everything
• Sweep again as needed

This locks the pavers together and reduces weed growth between joints.

10. Activate and lock the surface

Lightly mist the entire patio with water to activate the polymeric sand.

Don’t flood it—just enough to trigger the binding process.

Then finish by applying edge restraint (we used a mortar edge) around the perimeter.

This keeps everything locked in place long-term and prevents shifting.

Final Result (and why it works)

What we ended up with is a clean, durable patio that feels like it belongs with the house’s 1880s character.

The Plum Plaza Pavers from Glen-Gery were the real standout. Because the color runs through the material, they won’t fade like surface-treated concrete. 

They also don’t require sealing or ongoing treatment, which makes them incredibly low-maintenance.

Between the compacted gravel base, the sand leveling layer, and the locked-in joints, the whole system is designed to handle heavy use and harsh freeze-thaw cycles without shifting.

And honestly? The best part is just stepping back and realizing you built the whole space from nothing but grass and dirt.