Paver base calculator for Illinois

The stone below the pavers supports the finished surface. Use this calculator to estimate compacted crusher run or a similar material at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 4 inches for walking areas, 6-8 under vehicles, with the +10% compaction allowance included by default. Bedding sand is a separate 1-inch layer and has a separate calculator.

Base sizing

1. Lay out the paving area in feet, allowing the base to run 6 inches beyond each unclosed edge. That extension gives the edge restraint a firm bearing.
2. For compacted base, allow 4 inches under patios and walkways, 6 for clay soil or driveways, and 8 beneath driveways on soft ground.
3. Take cubic feet ÷ 27 for yards, multiply by 1.5 for tons, then add the +10% allowance.

Project depth and coverage

Layer order from lawn to finished paver

Plan the excavation by adding each layer. For a typical patio at lawn level, use 4 inches of base, 1 inch of bedding sand, and a 2 3/8 inch paver. That comes to a 7.5-inch dig, adjusted for the amount left above grade. Put a mark on a stake and measure during excavation. Digging too far costs for both soil removal, with the Dirt Calculator used backward to find yards leaving the hole, and replacement stone.

Paver base installation notes

• Run the plate compactor over 2-inch lifts, giving each lift a light mist. Slightly damp base compacts better than dry material.
• Away from the house, set the finished base at a 2-3% fall. Any grade in the base carries through the sand and pavers.
• Keep edge restraint on the compacted base, not lawn soil. The 6-inch overhang provides the needed support.
• With prairie clay, put woven geotextile below the base. It helps keep stone from settling into wet subgrade over the seasons.
• Base depth cannot be replaced with extra sand. A thick sand bed shifts and can leave the patio wavy.

Reusing base under old pavers

When re-laying a patio, the existing base may be usable. Lift the pavers, remove the old bedding sand, and check the base. If it is level, firm, and draining properly, install a new 1-inch bedding layer, cutting the stone order to a tenth of a new build. Remove the base too if you find dips, soft areas, or standing water. Leaving those issues in place puts the same failure beneath the replacement pavers.

Example: a 16 x 12 patio

The paved section is 192 square feet. Add the 6-inch overhang along three exposed sides for a 210 base footprint. With 4 inches of compaction, 210 x 0.333 = 70 cubic feet, or 2.6 cubic yards, about 3.9 tons and 4.3 with the allowance. Get 4.5 tons of crusher run and 0.9 tons of bedding sand from the Paver Sand Calculator in a single delivery at no charge. Schedule the drop after excavation, since a stone pile left on grass for two weeks creates a dead rectangle.

Questions on base depth and tonnage

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