4 Essential Power Tools To Have On Hand When DIYing A Patio
If you want to create a gathering area in your home's backyard, you may have seen many trendy ideas for designing the perfect patio. However, don't get too far ahead of yourself, as you still have to figure out how to build the patio. You can save some money by making it a DIY project, as hiring a pro for an average patio can cost $4,000. You can build a DIY patio for under $800, according to TikTok.
If you plan to DIY the job with pavers, you may need some power tools to make it go as smoothly as possible. Not every patio project needs power tools, but they can solve quite a few problems that are difficult to handle any other way, For example, you can cut pavers by hand with a hammer and chisel, but you may damage as many pavers as you break correctly and you may not create a smooth edge, which you probably will want with a patio. Power tools can reduce errors and give you a look that's finished and professional.
When you are DIYing a patio, the power tools you select will be large, which means they'll carry a large price tag. Because you probably won't use them all that often, consider renting them. You then won't have a large power tool taking up a lot of space in your garage, either. Big box hardware stores and local hardware stores may rent tools for you.
Power tools for preparing the patio site for pavers
One of the handiest power tools when building a patio in an area where you have grass (or weeds) growing is a walk-behind sod cutter. This is a large tool, but you can often rent it for about $100 for the day at Home Depot. If you'd prefer to purchase one of these machines, you can expect to pay $5,500 or more. A sod cutter can remove turf and dirt up to 2.5 inches in depth. You then can replant the sod somewhere else. You certainly can remove any dirt and grass by hand, but this is a labor-intensive job. The sod cutter creates a smooth base layer and simplifies the process. If you are just removing the grass for a really small patio, a shovel is probably fine, though.
A plate compactor is another large power tool that's great for DIYing a patio. The plate compactor compresses the sand and gravel that you lay as the base for the patio pavers. You also can use it to force sand between the pavers at the end of the project. When doing a hardscape project like creating a patio, the base layer must be compact and tight to give the pavers the best chance of remaining in place. You can rent a plate compactor for just shy of $100 per day at Home Depot. If you prefer to purchase this power tool, expect to pay at least $350.
Power tools for reshaping and cutting paver stones
Depending on the space you have available and the patio shape you want to create in your backyard, you may need to cut some pavers to ensure everything fits. To create a smooth edge, rather than using a chisel and hammer, the best bet is a paver saw rental from Home Depot, which you can have for about $100 per day. (You may have to pay extra for a circular saw accessory like a masonry blade, which is the best option to cut pavers.) Be certain you are deploying all safety features on the machine and are wearing protective gear. This is a dangerous job if done incorrectly, as the masonry blade spins between 2,000 and 3,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). If you prefer to buy this saw, expect to pay more than $1,400.
One other power tool you may want to use for this job is a grinder. It is a great tool for removing bumps and rough edges on the paver stones. (Some pavers may arrive from the store with odd bumps on them.) The blade spins at about 6,000 RPM and can do the job of smoothing out your pavers, even though this is a handheld tool. Expect to pay about $35 to rent it for the day at Home Depot. You'll pay around $200 to purchase it at Home Depot. You should wear protective gear whenever using this fast-spinning tool.