How To Lay Pavers For A Rounded Patio In Your Backyard

Pavers create an almost poetic space, imbuing warmth, ambiance, and charm like virtually no other material. Not just that; besides looking stylish, did you know that using pavers can increase your home value and hand you a return of 109% on your investment? Now, there are several patio shapes you can choose for your backyard, but none afford the same unique, soft, and inviting flow, connoting grace and freedom, as a rounded patio. On the downside, installing a round patio and getting that perfect circumferential edge is trickier than laying down pavers in a square or rectangular fashion. 

Fortunately, laying pavers for a rounded patio is a feasible DIY project — as long as you don't mind doing a bit of extra work. The trick is to know how to cut the blocks perfectly, so they fit your planned design. An easy way to cut a block is to score it with a grinder about ¾ of an inch down, then turn the block and hammer it from the other side until it breaks to leave you with a rounded edge. If you don't have the tools or expertise needed to tackle cutting, there are circular patio paver kits available that make the process much simpler.  

The first step to laying patio pavers for a rounded patio is to design and map the area, leaving a bit of extra space at the edge equal to the depth you are aiming for. Next, dig the area, allowing 4 to 6 inches for the gravel base, an inch for the sand, and enough additional depth to accommodate the paver's thickness. The excavated area should slope away from your home's foundation; otherwise, water will pool around your house whenever it rains. Remember to compact the ground before adding the gravel layer. Then mark the circle perimeter with spray paint, install flexible edging, and then add a one-inch layer of paver sand. Now, lay the pavers down gently, starting at the center. When you get to the rounded edge, cut the pavers along the curve using a grinder as described above, preferably with a diamond-tipped blade saw. Fill the gaps with paver sand. Finally, sweep sand off the pavers, compact the blocks using a tamper tool, and spritz the area to activate the sand.

If you don't want to cut pavers, look for a local hardware store that sells pre-cut circular patio paver kits. For example, Menards offers a kit that comes with different shapes of blocks. You place in multiple rings, starting with an 8-sided center block. You then simply follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper sequence and spacing — no sweat, no struggling with saws.