OT- Elevated Patio with Pavers

Reggae Fish

Reggae Fish

Premium Member
I'm looking at building an elevated patio. It needs to be done with pavers as I'm going to have a large smoker on it. (cannot be wood)
Since the ground does not allow digging much, I was going to basically build a trench and use treated boards as a frame. Since it will be approx. 10x8, I'm assuming I'll need some kind of joists. Is this correct? In addition, how short can I make this? What do I all fill it with? Do I do dirt or gravel first and then sand? Also, regarding the sand, do I use the leveling sand or just normal sand? If I make the frame to meet exactly with the pavers, do I need to do anything different as I want them all touching with no gaps. Would love all input.

Thanks,
Justin
 
I would treat it just like you would if you were paving a driveway or anything else....as long as you're not trying to elevate it too high. How high above the ground are you wanting to go?

No joists necessary. As a matter of fact, joists would only complicate things considerably.

I would plan on having some gaps as it's hard to make things absolutely perfect but that's what the sand is for.
 
I was just thinking about using a 2x6 so not high at all. If I am using 16x16, couldn't I get it exact? I could even prelay the pavers to get the frame exact. After that I would probably use edgers around it but about 6-8" out and then mulch in between the edging and the frame.

How deep should the sand be. Should I only use sand?

I've never done a driveway so I have no idea.
 
If you go to HD or Lowes they have the literature that shows you how to lay pavers. I'm sure there is plenty of info on the net too.

Something you'll eventually realize is that the pavers will not all be exactly the same size. That's no biggie and to be expected but planning on them all being the same is great in theory but no so great in practice.

Something else to consider is that the ground will be freezing and thawing and as it does things tend to "move" unless they are locked in place so no matter how precisely you lay the pavers, if there is a gap between the frame and the pavers, the pavers will move on you. This is also true when it snows and the water thaws and then refreezes while between the pavers.

Don't let this deter you ... just be aware of the possibilities.
 
I see. Everything I've found at Lowe's, HD, and the net is for digging out the ground. I haven't been able to find a good description for doing it "elevated"

I'll keep looking
 
Justin,

As long as you are only elevating it a few inches above grade and using a framework to hold it all together treat it just like you are digging into the ground. If you go higher you will be making it considerably more difficult.

Trying to use joists of any type will make it a huge PITA.
 
Build a frame to the height you want and back fill it with sand then lay the apvers on the sand.Assuming your only going up maybe 5 or 6 inches.
 
Question- Most places show to dig 7" deep.
Add 4" of gravel
Add 1" of leveling sand
Add pavers 1/4" apart and then add sand, sweep in, spray, and repeat.

Question is that if I use a 2x4 it's really only 3.5" and if it's going to have a small trench built, it will only stick up approx. 3" and most pavers are about 2" tall

If I went with a 2x6, it's really only 5.5" and if I build the trench it would leave me with about 5" in which I could do 2" of gravel, 1" of sand, and then the pavers.

What do you think?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10699320#post10699320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TWINPEAKS
Build a frame to the height you want and back fill it with sand then lay the apvers on the sand.Assuming your only going up maybe 5 or 6 inches.
Click to expand...

Are you saying I wouldn't need the gravel? I could just go straight sand?

If I was to use the 2x4 (3.5") couldn't I just dig the small trench, have 3" to work with. 1" of sand and then the pavers or is that not enough foundation?
 
I'd set in a 2X10 with it's edge either set 3" into the existing ground or use more of a gravel base. Better yet, dig a little, pour a small concrete foundation and lay a 2X6 on it.
 
Wood is going to bow and when it bows, your pavers will move. Use blocks (Versalok, Keystone, etc.) to build it up. Start with one course below grade and then your final course(s) to final grade. Fill it with minus and compact it then put a 1" leveling sand bed in. Lay your pavers and then lock it together with sand.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10700221#post10700221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MayoBoy
Wood is going to bow and when it bows, your pavers will move. Use blocks (Versalok, Keystone, etc.) to build it up. Start with one course below grade and then your final course(s) to final grade. Fill it with minus and compact it then put a 1" leveling sand bed in. Lay your pavers and then lock it together with sand.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help. If I use the versalok. Normally, they're 4" tall. could I get away with tamping the ground and just using 1 high? (they're pricey) and go with 1" crushed stone (limestone, etc...), 1" of play sand" and then the 2" pavers and finish with the polymeir sand over the pavers?

However, if I only go 1 high, will that give it enough support without putting it in a trench? If I go 2 high and put it in a small trench, I'm at about 7" which is taller than I wanted to go.

I suppose I can see if there is any similar that are maybe 3" tall that I could go 2 high on
 
I know this might sound crazy but what about something like this. (stay with me :D )

* Build a frame out of 2x6's.
* Put joists going across but stay towards the bottom.
* On top of the joists, lay a piece of something like a 1" sheet of treated plywood
* 1" of sand on top of the plywood for leveling
* Pavers
* Polymeir Sand

Then I would have a very heavy but movable patio.

What do you think? Could this work?
This would save me the money on the versaloks, and the crushed gravel and the tamping of all of that, just leaving the sand to tamp.
 
The edge of blocks (Allen, keystone, whatever) for the edge is the best I've heard so far.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10700885#post10700885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by latazyo
Justin, is a step down from your house out of the question?
Click to expand...

This will be a few feet away from my deck so it will be lower than my deck. Why do you ask?
 
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