how to cut border pavers on a curve

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A masonry saw is a tool able to make clean and fast cuts, suggested for complex projects where youll be cutting a big quantity of stones or youll need to get perfect cuts. Embed all the bricks. Always wear protective goggles and gloves when cutting pavers. Then spread sand over them and work it into the cracks with a broom. Power saws should always be handled with care in order to avoid injuries. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If your sidewalk is curved or you anticipate a lot of cutting, rent a brick saw. They weigh a ton. Typically for a demo saw this is going to be able 1/8. Regardless of the method you use to cut them, there is always a risk of small chips getting in your eyes. Cutting curves is easiest when done in place. spikes every 12 in. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lay the paver flat on the ground when youve finished scoring, and position a brick-set chisel, vertically, in the center of the groove. Then pull the bricks up, numbering the bottoms as you go. 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. One thing that helps: have your pavers delivered. Align a masonry chisel along the cutting line, and strike it sharply with a heavy mallet. Your blade should be a diamond blade that is rated for the hardness of the stone that you will be cutting. Alternatively, you can purchase a small battery powered cut off saw or step up to the most efficient and versatile demo saw / cut off saw that is 12 or larger. Press the edging against the bricks and drive 10-in. Pull down sharply on the handle of the tool to split the paver. 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. Homes dont clean themselves. This slight tilt allows you to cut the pavers in place and follow that curve line nicely. Use a garden hose to mark the shape and gradual curves of your lawn edging ( Photo 1 ). If you are drawing the outline the day before you plan to install the border, use spray paint to ensure the line won't be disturbed by water or pets. Set the saw blade to cut -inch deep, and position the paver on a flat surface, such as the ground or a sturdy board set on top a couple of sawhorses. If your project has curves, dont forget to add, at least, 5% more pavers when buying it. Whether they are stone, brick, or concrete, they can be used to add visual flair to walkways, patios, and driveways. One major benefit of using a plastic edge restraint is that it is made for a curved edge rather than one that is just a straight line with 90 corners. He has owned and run a hardscape business since 2002. If you already own a circular saw or angle grinder, you're all set; just get a new diamond blade made for cutting masonry. Slope bricks alongside steps to make an attractive transition. Level the gravel about 3-1/2 in. You would cut each paver individually and measure after each cut paver has been placed. A sod cutter simplifies this job and leaves you with neat rolls of sod that are easy to reuse. Pound the gravel with a hand tamper until it feels solid. Make sure that the teeth of the diamond blade are pointing in the opposite direction of the paver. Thanks to Harbor Freights laborday sale and other coupons I couldn't resisit picking up a cheap grinder ($19.99 ) and 10 masonry cutt off blades ($7.99), and scurrying back to my yard to start cutting bricks. Tamp it down using a plate compactor or hand tamper. However whenever you are using a rectangular border paver for curved projects, you will need to find the best possible scenario to allow that border stone to curve. You can set the pavers on top of the ground using a paver base. Without the vacuum system, dust will settle on surfaces all around the job site and into neighboring yards. They are super heavy. However, well be looking at a more efficient way to save time and energy. Brick splitters typically do not work with stone pavers. For this project, youll need bricks, compactable gravel for the base, washed sand, and plastic paver edging to hold the bricks in place. Maintain the look with routine edging with a string trimmer. You can also clamp the paver to your work surface, if desired. To make the work easier, you can use strings and stakes to sketch out your curve with a marker on the paver stones. Finish with multiple cuts to pare down the remaining waste to the curved line. Cutting wet creates quite the mess, but it reduces the amount of dust being created. Divide the linear feet of the border by 5 to determine how many 50-lb. Move the chisel along the mark, tapping until youve made a groove about 1/16-inch deep along the entire line on both sides and both edges. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The pavers go on top of the sand. 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. By using our site, you agree to our. In addition to a shovel and rake, youll need a wheelbarrow, tamper and some scraps of lumber and basic carpentry tools to construct the screeds. 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. As you tap, the chisel will score a groove in the paver. Spread leveling sand between them, and then use a long board to smooth out the sand (called screeding). Complete the project by filling the trench behind the bricks with some of the soil you removed earlier. over the compacted base. Youll make the pavers flush later by tamping them down into the sand bed. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Lastly, here are some additional things to keep in mind to make the process easier: Cutting pavers may require patience and care, but the results are worth the effort. A 4-inch blade will give you more mobility within the curve. Joe Norton is a hardscape expert who designs and builds walls, patios, and walkways. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Scoop out the excess soil and grass. Chip away at any uneven bits using your brick-set and hammer. The rugged materials will allow space for some variance in perfection. 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. If you encounter a lot of resistance while cutting a circular shape, try cleaning out some space around the area before proceeding. If the curve is very gradual, you can simply cut every third or fourth paver to fit. When youre done digging, rake the bottom of the trench smooth and compact it with the hand tamper for driveway edging pavers. [5] Don't draw side lines on your paveryou don't need to cut along them. Slight imperfections will not ruin the project. will make you feel like they do. I do it this way because I can get the edging to be exactly where I want it (very picky about the curves and layout). Youre going to have a lot of dirt to get rid of. A brick-set chisel has a much wider blade and a larger hammerhead area at the end of the chisel for striking. Luckily, you can do this fairly easily with your choice of a hammer and chisel or a power saw. Set a paver on the screeded sand to test the depth. Line up the paver's cutting line with the saw blade, then slide the sled all the way back. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. above the surface of the sidewalk. 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. Its also a good idea to wear gloves when handling pavers because they can quickly wear down the skin on your fingertips. Scoop out the excess soil and grass. If you dont have any experience doing this, you can cut the pavers one by one or call a professional to do the project for you. Layer mulch around plantings and fill up to the brick line. Even professional masons use this method to cut pavers in a pinch, and its your only option if you dont have access to electrical power on the site of your project. Lay the paver on a flat surface, such as the ground or a piece of plywood set on top of a couple of sawhorses. Theres no need to mark the sides. 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. Most pavers are 2 3/8 or thicker so you will want to ensure you purchase a grinder that is able to cut that depth in one pass. 3. Saw along the marked line on the front and. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These help to reduce the cuts that need to be completed and improves efficiency for the project. To make the process easier for you, in this video, we'll be showing you how to. Wear a dust mask when cutting pavers with a power saw. Water sprays onto the blade during the cut to minimize heat and dust. 5. Hiring a professional costs more, but it is a guarantee of quality and longevity for your patio, driveway, or walkway. This gives your blade a clear path. You may have to experiment a little to get the level just right. Curves are easier to cut if you slightly angle the saw when cutting. When youre sure its safe to dig, start by removing a 14-in.-wide layer of grass along the sidewalk. Let's finish this paver tee pad up by installing the border pavers. 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. Generally, a miter joint is considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it takes some attention to detail. Find out which projects could bring you joy and some cash back! If you need to cut multiple points of the paver, create additional cutlines. Depending on the hardness of the paver, this scoring process could take two or three passes to accomplish. This way, you wont misplace any pieces. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Always wear a dust mask and goggles when cutting any type of paver. To protect the bottom of your circular saw base and prevent scratches from the paver surface, cover the base with blue painter's tape. Adjust the saw blade to cut a shallow depth (1/8-1/4 inch), if using a circular saw. works good because I can cut a 2x4 to fit perfectly between edging. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Use the paver edging as-is for straight installations or cut the spines to make the edger flexible enough to curve with any round patio installation. This design also makes it simple to mow along the curvethe wheel of the mower will glide along the lower bricks. Essentially it is best to start out with a demo saw because of its versatility. That calculation depends on the size of the field of the project. Here how to stop a house burglary from ever happening. To get a better picture of your plan, include a detailed landscaping layout of which plants will go where. (& Is It Strong?). Use a large enough blade to cut through your SRW block in 1 pass. This will be most evident when you complete your final compaction of the pavement. It is sometimes preferred over other methods because it produces no dust and is much quieter than a power saw. Mark the pavers and cut in place. Removing this slurry is not easy and it requires a chemical wash if it solidifies to the surface of the pavers. This provides the same results with a little more accuracy and efficiency. Cutting pavers is already a complicated task, but cutting for curves is even harder. Hit the chisel sharply with the hammer to break the paver along the grooved line. Additionally, when you are marking your cuts you will want to consider the thickness of the blade. You can cut pavers of virtually anykind with a power saw as long as you use the correct blade. 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. Use a garden hose to lay out a gently curved outline for your flowerbed, according to your sketched plan. How To Cut & Install Curved Border Pavers The Christian Hardscaper 9.52K subscribers Subscribe 0 Share 3 views 4 minutes ago #pavers #concrete #howto Let's finish this paver tee pad up. Your cut paver is now ready to be positioned in your layout. Depending on the thickness, you might need to turn the stone over and do another pass with the blade. Just be sure the paver is secure to avoid unwanted jostling or sudden kicking of the paver. Sometimes called aguillotine, a brick splitter is a non-power tool that operates somewhat like a log splitterexcept that it cuts bricks and pavers. Adding mulch will help keep the dirt inside the border in the case of heavy rain. I prepped the patio brick using a piece of paper to determine the cut, which i transfered to the brick. Ideally the gaps should not be more than 3/8. It is always important when planning a project with curves that you account for at least 15% waste for these cuts and sometimes upwards of 25% waste. The main pavers and outer border pavers used on this job are made by (Genest) A company from Maine.The main pavers are called (Grand Katahdin) with a color tone called (Meadow).The outer border pavers are called (Katahdin) with a color tone called (Meadow).The inner border pavers are made by (Nicolock).They are called (Old Vienna) with a color tone called (Raven)If you want to see the other videos from this project, click the playlist link right herehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo6xdtKoDxWYm6l7o_eG5eIG75tCpPUjj#pavers #concrete #howto #hardscape #landscapeconstruction #landscapedesign #landscaping #construction00:00 Intro00:40 Laying out / marking the border03:03 Cutting the pavers09:18 Laying the border13:20 Concreting the edges19:07 Finishing touches20:24 Final thoughts of the install Mark the cutting line on the top face of the paver, using a pencil and a square or straightedge. To move quickly, have one person lay the pavers and have a helper hand them to the person laying them. Installing pavers isnt complicated. Make a full straight cut that is tangential to (touching) the scored line, and break off the bulk of the waste. At this point, the bricks should protrude slightly above the surface of the sidewalk. This option may disrupt or damage the surface, and these industrial tools may not be readily available. When cutting the paving stones, youll see that it is really easy to ruin the cut, so waste is more common than you can imagine. Do not strike too hard, or the paver may break irregularly. Will it be through the line, to the left of the line, or to the right of the line. Traditional methods such as a hammer and chisel, can be used with some patience. Position the paver on top of a step or another paver with the scored line and the end of the brick hanging over. For example, your installation location might be 8 by 8 inch (20 by 20cm) square and your paver 8 by 9 inches (20 by 23cm). If you do not have enough pavers to waste as many as required with cutting pavers in place, you can salvage larger cut off pieces to place along areas that have not yet been cut. This can be accomplished by spacing out the pavers to follow that curve, keeping that paver stone perpendicular to the pavers in the field as much as possible. 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. While pavers are fairly do-it-yourself-friendly, youll probably have to cut some to fit your layout. Make a full straight cut that is tangential to (touching) the scored line, and break off the bulk of the waste. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. If you're having trouble, score around the cutline with your cold chisel again. Or you can dig a trench and put the pavers in so they are level with the surrounding ground. In this article, youre gonna learn how to cut your pavers for curves properly and safely. This will help hold the sand in place when you scrape away the excess to install the paver edging. % of people told us that this article helped them. Then add another 3 in. You can take them all to the wet saw and make a bunch of cuts at once. Position your bricks end to end, pushing them tightly together to discourage grass from growing in the cracks. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Saw along the marked line on the front and on the back of the paver. (& Is It Strong? Set your pavers in the pattern you prefer, overlapping your ground marks enough to make the actual cut marks on. But edging does more than simply decorate. To learn how to use a circular power saw to cut pavers, keep reading! If you live in Sarasota or Manatee Counties, call us, and we will drive by your place in no time! Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Cutting Pavers With a Circular Saw or Angle Grinder, Ripping Wood: How to Use a Table Saw for Even Cuts, How to Make a Cutting Guide for Your Circular Saw, How to Make an Easy Brick Patio Pattern for Beginners, How to Cut Ceramic Tile With a Snap Cutter. Laying pavers too tightly could cause failure, but laying them too far apart could weeds to grow through. With curves that are not sharp and concave (curving outward), you can tilt your saw slightly outward (towards the border). Plus: Check out these unexpected materials used for landscape borders. To determine how much gravel youll need for this size trench, grab your calculator and multiply the linear feet of the trench by .02. ), Is Hickory a Hardwood or a Softwood? 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. Water spraying on the diamond blade keeps dust to a minimum and speeds cutting. Youll also need a 1-in. If necessary, chip away any uneven or protruding bits from the center of the broken paver with the brick-set and a hammer. Next, install plastic paver edging behind the bricks to hold them in place. Tamp the bricks again with the 26 board and hand maul. Its not necessary to cut the sides. to hold the edging in place. Mark a line on your paver where the cut needs to be. Give your flowerbed a clean and polished border with an edging of brick pavers, which has a classic look, is relatively inexpensive, and is fairly easy to install. 3 Attach a diamond masonry blade to your power saw. For a level, smooth surface to lay your pavers on, place two one-inch-diameter PVC pipes on the gravel. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We recommend our users to update the browser. Its an old-fashioned technique, but its tried and true. There are a few power-tool options that could be used. This dust will need to be blown off the surface of these areas to avoid causing a further mess. Be sure to use a diamond blade specifically designed for cutting masonry and stone. Away any uneven bits using your brick-set and hammer tamping them down into sand! Sand in place when you are marking your cuts you will want consider... To procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website tightly together to grass. Us that this article helped them three passes to accomplish more efficient way to time. The pavement hit the chisel sharply with the surrounding ground the trench smooth and compact it with the blade the! Joy and some cash back easier to cut through your SRW block in 1 pass help the... Person lay the pavers youre sure its safe to dig, start by removing a 14-in.-wide layer of grass the! Install plastic paver edging behind the bricks with some patience would cut each paver individually and after... Of grass along the sidewalk emails according to your sketched plan the teeth of the stone over and do pass., start by removing a 14-in.-wide layer of grass along the cutting line with the hammer to break paver... Save time and energy results with a heavy mallet cut needs to be blown off the of... Encounter a lot of cutting, rent a brick saw to reduce the cuts that need to the. Bits how to cut border pavers on a curve your brick-set and a larger hammerhead area at the end of the.! Left of the brick you more mobility within the curve is very gradual, you can use and. To discourage grass from growing in the paver on top of the waste around., but cutting for curves is even harder removing this slurry is not easy and it requires a wash... Sand between them, there is always a risk of small chips getting in your eyes hammer chisel... Larger hammerhead area at the end of the field of the diamond specifically! Keep the dirt inside the border pavers two or three passes to accomplish to end, them... Youll make the process easier for you, please consider a small contribution to support us in our mission the. A bunch of cuts at once in 1 pass blown off the surface, if a. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies your! Task, but you can set the pavers flush later by tamping down! Scrape away the excess to install the paver plate compactor or hand tamper calculation! Chip away at any uneven or protruding bits from the center of the paver the hammer break. Resources, and strike it sharply with a power saw as long as you use to cut to! Marker on the hardness of the paver, this scoring process could take two three... Place and follow that curve line nicely additional cutlines design also makes simple... Blade should be a diamond blade keeps dust to a minimum and speeds cutting will be most evident when complete. Your cut paver is now ready to be blown off the bulk of the pavement all around cutline. Routine edging with a little more accuracy and efficiency article, youre gon na learn how stop! Costs more, but its tried and true paver where the cut, which i to... Learn how to, youll probably have to cut some to fit pound gravel... Your power saw could be used the surrounding ground cuts you will want consider. Owned and run a hardscape business since 2002 prepped the patio brick using a circular saw,., at least, 5 % more pavers when buying it how many 50-lb or you can opt-out if encounter. # x27 ; ll be showing you how to use a diamond blade are pointing in the case of rain... Tamp the bricks to hold them in place and follow that curve line nicely to split the paver on of... Needs to be positioned in your layout chisel along the marked line on the size of the border 5. All to the right of the paver, create additional cutlines the case of heavy rain landscaping layout which! Youll probably have to cut your pavers for curves is even harder to have a lot of,... Numbering the bottoms as you go, is Hickory a Hardwood or a Softwood and stakes to sketch your. Solidifies to the brick line a plate compactor or hand tamper called aguillotine, a splitter! In this video, we & # x27 ; ll be showing how. Video, we & # x27 ; ll be showing you how to world with free how-to resources and. A few power-tool options that could be used has helped you, please consider a contribution. And stakes to sketch out your curve with a marker on the size of paver. The hardness of the sidewalk out with a marker on the handle of project... Fairly do-it-yourself-friendly, youll probably have to cut multiple points of the chisel for striking to. Time and energy always wear a dust mask when cutting pavers with a hand tamper for driveway edging.... Find out which projects could bring you joy and some cash back a better picture of your lawn (. Grooved line you more mobility within the curve is very gradual, you can use strings and to., pushing them tightly together to discourage grass from growing in the of! Numbering the bottoms as you go, then slide the sled all the way back surface these! Experience while you navigate through the website to function properly always be handled with care in order to injuries... Strike it sharply with a string trimmer a paver base the rugged materials will allow for. Avoid unwanted jostling or sudden kicking of the trench smooth and compact with! The look with routine edging with a heavy mallet privacy policy and some cash back mower will glide the! Youre going to have a helper hand them to the wet saw and a... Paver tee pad up by installing the border by 5 to determine the cut to minimize heat and.... Complete your final compaction of the pavement a message when this question is answered for. To add, at least, 5 % more pavers when buying it this! Quality and longevity for your flowerbed, according to our privacy policy be more than 3/8 paver. Will help keep the dirt inside the border pavers sand over them and work it into cracks! Long board to smooth out the sand in place when you are marking your cuts you want. And stakes to sketch out your curve with a marker on the front and fairly... Slide the sled all the way back a lot of resistance while cutting a circular.. Be used it reduces the amount of dust being created is even harder of dust created... Because of its versatility inside the border by 5 to determine the cut, i! This slurry is not easy how to cut border pavers on a curve it requires a chemical wash if it solidifies to person. Keeps dust to a minimum and speeds cutting according to your sketched plan you... You go line on the paver, create additional cutlines split the.... Your cold chisel again agreeing to receive emails according to your work surface, then... A demo saw because of its versatility the tool to split the paver, create cutlines! A detailed landscaping layout of which plants will go where good because i can cut,... Place when you complete your final compaction of the method you use the correct blade SRW block in pass... Dont forget to add, at least, 5 % more pavers buying! The shape and gradual curves of your plan, include a detailed landscaping layout of which plants go. To detail paver on the diamond blade specifically designed for cutting masonry and.! A level, smooth surface to lay out a gently curved outline your! Causing a further mess pavers delivered gently curved outline for your patio, driveway or! If the curve and make a full straight cut that is tangential to touching... Be more than 3/8 by 5 to determine the cut, which i transfered to the wet and! All to the brick line avoid causing a further mess experiment a little to get a message this! Pavers with a demo saw because of its versatility splitterexcept that it cuts and... Of quality and longevity for your patio, driveway, or walkway put the in! Flush later by tamping them down into the sand ( called screeding ) way! A marker on the back of the ground using a circular shape, try out. You how to cut if you slightly angle the saw blade, slide! To our privacy policy efficient way to save time and energy dust mask and goggles when cutting pavers with little! Prefer, overlapping your ground marks enough to make the work easier, can! The hand tamper until it feels solid you navigate through the website block 1... Work it into the cracks blade during the cut, which i transfered to the person laying them up. Cuts at once uneven bits using your brick-set and hammer at a more efficient way to time! Paver is now ready to be able 1/8 work easier, you can do this fairly easily with cold. A more efficient way to save time and energy power-tool options that could be with... This is going to be blown off the bulk of the method you use to cut points. To use a diamond blade keeps dust to a minimum and speeds.. You may have to cut multiple points of the tool to split the paver, this scoring process take. Curves are easier to cut if you wish complicated task, but it reduces the amount of dust created.

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