Bricks & Pavers Technical Manual - Boral

Bricks & Pavers Technical Manual
Section 2.3 Pavement Construction
Laying Practices
2.306
Pavers being a regular form are usually laid in regular patterns containing straight lines. These lines are critical to
the look of the pavement and are marked out with stringlines which are used to set out the pavers. Judging the
line(s) to use requires an assessment of the pattern and the site. Where there is a strong central line in the
pavement this is usually critical and a stringline would be placed on that line and set out would be from that line.
Pavements abutting existing structures usually follow their lines and gauging should be done from them. Edges or
ends of pavers are usually aligned with the stringline but in the case of 45˚ herringbone corners are aligned to it.
While experienced paviours gauge by eye it is usual practice to place stringlines at regular intervals (10 rows in
pavements on sand bedding courses) to check the pattern is regular. If the line of the pavers has deviated from the
stringline it is usually necessary to remove a few rows of pavers and relay them making adjustments to the joint
width to return to the correct alignment. Depending on the magnitude of the misalignment, realigning may need the
removal and relaying of three or four rows.
Pavers are usually laid from one side or from the centreline. 90˚ herringbone is usually laid from a corner or
sometimes from the centre of one side advancing out in the shape of a triangle. Whole pavers are laid first followed
by part pavers.
Pavers on Sand Bedding Courses
Pavers must be laid so that there is a joint of 2 to 5 mm between them. Pavers should never be butted up against each
other. Where joints are too narrow insufficient sand will fill them and it is likely the pavers will contact each other
which will lead to chipping of corners and edges and may lead to rutting, shunting and the failure of the pavement.
Laying is usually forward from the laid pavers and not from the sand in front. Where laying from the front must be
done the bedding sand should be compacted and only a thin screed layer left loose on top and where possible
boards should be used to minimise the disturbance and prevent the need to re-screed the sand. Pavers should be
placed in the correct position without regard to their neighbours, leaving gaps where a full paver will not fit. Small
amounts of sand may be trowelled on to adjust the level if needed. This is particularly the case where two or more
different types of paver are used in the one pavement.
Pavers with Mortared Joints
Mortared joints in pavements are usually 10 mm and laying is from the side or front of the pavers. Good brick laying
techniques should be used including laying to stringlines or using levels to ensure pavers are to the required level. It
is usually easier to lay part pavers at the same time as laying whole pavers. Careful mortar preparation, clean
working and fully bedding and filling all joints are important. t
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