Most people experience few problems with doing their own planting and landscaping, but when it comes to paving, many feel that they should rather hire a contractor to do the hard work. Doing your own paving is much easier than you might expect, though. There are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering DIY paving, but if you follow these guidelines, you’ll find the job much easier and more rewarding than you thought possible.

The first and most important thing is planning. Measure the area you are planning to pave twice – to get the measurements right. Then, sit down with graph paper and a pencil to draw out exactly how you want your DIY paving project to turn out. Make sure that you properly scale your design on paper of the actual area you will be paving. Once you have drafted the preliminary blueprint for your paving project, you must determine how much material you’ll need. A good home improvement store is a great source of assistance and advice, to establish your material requirements (concrete, paving stones and rocks, etc.) and the best tools to use.

To prepare the area you want to pave, remove all debris, rocks and stones, and ensure that it is level and ready to be paved. Next, you can lay out your design by using spray-paint. This step creates a guideline and will give you a better picture of the finished project. If you are happy with it, you can start laying your paving stones or other material. Don’t hesitate to ask for help with your project, as paving can be quite a challenge and more hands equal less time. Once the job is done, invite your friends and family over for a paving party to celebrate the new addition to your home. You’ll be surprised how quickly your DIY paving project becomes a reality, and you finally have that beautiful paving design you’ve always wanted.