Preparation

• Start with a detailed plan that incorporates where you would like your patio to be located on your property, how you want it to look and how much you are willing to spend on it. There are a great many varieties of paver stones on the market; the only issue is whether your style is available where and when you need it.
  
  Prepare the area for your paver patio. You will need to excavate the land. Contact the utility companies in your area, if applicable, to identify any buried pipes or cables before you begin digging. Dig down at least six inches more than the pavers' thickness. Tamp down the dirt to create a level space. According to the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute ("ICPI"), the ground should slope ¼ inch for each foot away from the house.
  
  

Foundation

• Create the foundation for the paver patio. Put your best efforts into making the gravel and sand layers. A good foundation turns what would be a collection of pavers lying dangerously underfoot into a beautiful and functional patio.
  
  Lay down commercial grade landscaping fabric over the entire area. The landscaping fabric works to prevent weeds pushing up through the patio; regular sweeping and maintenance should keep weeds from seeding from the top of the patio.
  
  Add as little as 4 inches to as much as 10 inches of crushed gravel on top of the fabric. The exact amount of gravel to use varies according to region and soil type. Consult with a local builder who can tell you quickly the specific amounts for your location.
  
  Spread out an inch of sand evenly. If the sand is not level, the pavers will not be level.
  
  

Completion

• Set the pavers for the patio into the sand. Take care not to disturb the sand too much when you add the pavers. Stake plastic paver edging around the patio's border. You can purchase paver edging in most home improvement stores. The ICPI recommends using plate compactors to compact the pavers. Move back and forth, as if you were mowing grass.
  
  Spread dry sand across the pavers. Mortar sand should work well. Some people prefer polymeric sand. Fill the spaces between the pavers with the sand. Tamp or vibrate the sand firmly into place. Sweep away any excess sand. You should now have a paver patio that will give you many years of enjoyment, knowing that you did it yourself.