how to cut border pavers on a curve

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. Avoid hitting the chisel too hardyou might break off too much of the paver. Dont come home to a nightmare and the feeling of being invaded. A mud-remediation plan. Following the curved outline, dig a shallow trench so the flat-laid bricks will rest just above the existing soil. 2. Place a ruler onto your paver and draw a line on the top to mark off the region that needs to be cut. Level the gravel about 3-1/2 in. Water spraying on the diamond blade keeps dust to a minimum and speeds cutting. PVC conduit like this works great because you can connect multiple lengths if your walkway is long. While pavers are fairly do-it-yourself-friendly, youll probably have to cut some to fit your layout. The vibration will cause the dry sand to fill the cracks and lock the bricks tightly together. Let's finish this paver tee pad up by installing the border pavers. Remember to score your lines on the curve prior to attempting further cuts so you never lose your line. You can take them all to the wet saw and make a bunch of cuts at once. Theres no need to mark the sides. With sharper curves or curves that are convex (curving inward), you may not be able to follow that line in place. Joe Norton is a hardscape expert who designs and builds walls, patios, and walkways. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. We installed a deep compacted gravel base under the bricks. If you already own a circular saw or angle grinder, you're all set; just get a new diamond blade made for cutting masonry. [5] Don't draw side lines on your paveryou don't need to cut along them. Especially when taking the time to create curves that contrast the square or rectangular materials. 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. 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. deep trench for typical paver bricks. Construct a screed by screwing a 14-in.-wide scrap of plywood to a 32-in. 1. Additionally, cutting dry without a vacuum system is illegal in many areas. This article has been viewed 37,054 times. thick, but other sizes are available. Cover everything with tarps in-between sessions. 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). Keep this in mind while making your cuts. The next step up would be an angle grinder that would allow you to cut more accurately and efficiently along your cut line. Make a full straight cut that is tangential to (touching) the scored line, and break off the bulk of the waste. A curved path draws and entices you to follow it. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. We recommend our users to update the browser. Its also a good idea to wear ear protection because the cutting process is quite loud. Homes dont clean themselves. For straight borders, follow a tightly stretched string line. If you need to make a lot of cuts, it might be best to rent a wet saw or a brick/paver splitter. Put down all your paver stones. It's much easier if you have numerous people to help with this task. Saw along the marked line on the front and. 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). You have read and agreed to our privacy policy. New garage flooring is an easy fix pick the right option for how youll use the space. You would cut each paver individually and measure after each cut paver has been placed. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer. wider than the brick and extend 6 in. Just be sure the paver is secure to avoid unwanted jostling or sudden kicking of the paver. Wear knee pads and gloves. Leave the soil slightly below the surface of the lawn to allow room for the sod. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Most pavers are 4 x 8 in. Measure the total linear feet of edging you plan to install and multiply by 3 to arrive at the number of 4-in.-wide paver bricks youll need. However, this method is more likely to create a jagged edge. Essentially it is best to start out with a demo saw because of its versatility. The trench will provide space for the compacted fill along the walkway edging. All standard cutting methods work for straight cuts, but for curved cuts, use a circular saw or angle grinder. Brick splitters typically do not work with stone pavers. Both types are durable and long lasting. Her work has also been featured in the Epoch Times. If you are laying the pavers in place and cutting the curve afterward, a portable gas or electric cutoff saw or a wet-saw could do the job. works good because I can cut a 2x4 to fit perfectly between edging. Slice down into the soil to form a flat wall. % of people told us that this article helped them. window.tgpQueue.add('tgpli-63ff6ab965a1e'), window.tgpQueue.add('tgpli-63ff6ab965a2e'). 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. This usually leaves about a inch of edging still for the the paver to catch on. Embed all the bricks. Doing this leaves spaces where the curved areas can be accommodated. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It is sometimes preferred over other methods because it produces no dust and is much quieter than a power saw. We first begin without water and scoring the line so that the line does not disappear when we move through it with the water on. Dont worry if the tops arent even. 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. You can take them all to the wet saw and make a bunch of cuts at once. 4. Next, install plastic paver edging behind the bricks to hold them in place. Score the curved cut along the top of the paver first, cutting about 1/8 inch deep. Use a garden hose to lay out a gently curved outline for your flowerbed, according to your sketched plan. One thing to make sure you do: Have your pavers delivered. Depending on the thickness, you might need to turn the stone over and do another pass with the blade. Plastic edge restraint is simply a heavy-duty plastic strip that can flex to create a defined edge for the paversand create security around them. Follow these steps to create the perfect border. Set the paver flat on your work surface, and gently but firmly, tap the waste portion of the paver with a hammer to break the paver along the cutting line. to hold the edging in place. This is necessary because you cut the winding path from a path with. One may also ask, can you cut paving slabs with an angle grinder? 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. Its not necessary to cut the sides. Level the gravel about 3-1/2 in. Clay pavers have a rich, authentic look, but cement pavers are a little less expensive. Once the shape is completely marked, you can remove and cut each paver, replacing it before moving on to the next. Youll also need enough 10-in.-long spikes to install one every 12 in. Maintain the look with routine edging with a string trimmer. Cutting a curvature into the pavers will create a more uniform appearance which indicates more care and craftsmanship. Youre going to have a lot of dirt to get rid of. Place your paver on a sandbag if it gets unsteady. One thing that helps: have your pavers delivered. You can use conduit, tent poles, plastic edge restraint, or simply placing pavers on top of the pavers that are already laid to get your curves perfectly before drawing the line with a marking tool. Installing pavers isnt complicated. For example, your installation location might be a 7 by 7 inch (18 by 18cm) square and your paver 7 by 8 inches (18 by 20cm). When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. To protect the bottom of your circular saw base and prevent scratches from the paver surface, cover the base with blue painter's tape. A 4-inch blade will give you more mobility within the curve. 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. 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. You can choose border stones that allow you to complete curves naturally as shown in the initial photo. Pavers, available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, are a relatively inexpensive way to build a path through the garden, from the street to the house, or out to the pool or garden shed. Complete the project by filling the trench behind the bricks with some of the soil you removed earlier. Slide the sled back, remove the paver pieces, and turn off the saw. If your sidewalk is straight and you only have a few bricks to cut, you can use a diamond blade mounted in a circular saw to cut the bricks. Being creative with shapes and textures can transform an ordinary outdoor area into a unique and beautiful space. Finish with multiple cuts to pare down the remaining waste to the curved line. Dig a 4-inch-deep trench around the edge of the curved landscaping. Afterward, turn the paver over and draw a line on the bottom parallel to the first one. Its also a good idea to wear gloves when handling pavers because they can quickly wear down the skin on your fingertips. Always wear a dust mask and goggles when cutting any type of paver. 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. ), Is Hickory a Hardwood or a Softwood? No, you really don't want to do this. Press the edging against the bricks and drive 10-in. For that reason, a mansory blade is highly recommended. Creating this curvature, however, can be challenging and take some time. It also keeps mulch in place, saves trimming and weeding time along a border, and blocks your lawn from invading your flowerbed. If youre lucky enough to have a full-service landscape supplier in your area, you can order all your materials there. The water mixed with the dust will create a slurry that will harden to the surface of the pavers if not rinsed off. Adjust the saw blade to cut a shallow depth (1/8-1/4 inch), if using a circular saw. and about 2-1/4 in. Put a rubber mat or small carpet under the paver to prevent it from moving. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Here how to stop a house burglary from ever happening. Position the paver on the base of the tool so the marked line is aligned with the splitter's cutting edge. If you need to cut multiple points of the paver, create additional cutlines. Hedges make great borders. 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. You can then draw a line from that mark to the corner of the paver on the opposite end and those are the lines you would cut in order to fit tightly against your initial border stone. Mark the pavers and cut in place. 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. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. In order to ensure your satisfaction, we conducted a thorough evaluation of each product's performance-to-price ratio. 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. Plus: Check out these unexpected materials used for landscape borders. Sketch a plan of what you want your flowerbed to look like. 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. Following your line, dig a trench slightly deeper than the height of your bricks when they are lying flat (usually about 3-4 inches). This will help to prevent the blade from becoming blunt too quickly. Step 5: Once each side is cut, you can either tap the scrap portion with a hammer or tap inside the cut line with a chisel, and you should have a clean break along your cuts. Don't draw side lines on your paveryou don't need to cut along them. You can cut pavers of virtually anykind with a power saw as long as you use the correct blade. Using a string and stake, sketch out your curve with a marker on the paver stones. 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. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Make sure you budget enough time, and add a day for surprises or bad weather. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Cut-Pavers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Pavers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Cut-Pavers-Step-1.jpg\/aid10389921-v4-728px-Cut-Pavers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"