I'm planning to lay some pavers for a backyard patio in Ontario, and I've heard conflicting advice about the bedding materials I should use. Someone suggested using 5 inches of HPB (High Performance Bedding) topped with 1 inch of screening. However, I also read that screening can freeze and that HPB isn't typically used as the lower layer. So I'm curious about the best approach:
1. Is it better to go with 5 inches of 3/4" gravel over a geotextile fabric with 1 inch of HPB on top of that, followed by the pavers?
OR
2. Should I use 5 inches of HPB on the geotextile and then 1 inch of screening before laying down the pavers?
Before this, I plan to dig out and remove 6 inches of soil. I've also looked up what the standard sizes are for these materials:
- Clear gravel 3/4"
- HPB between 1/4" to 3/8"
- Screening, which is either powder or slightly larger
I'm not expecting any heavy loads—just foot traffic, a BBQ, a fire pit, some seasonal furniture, and a granite table. Any guidance would be appreciated!
1 Answer
I've had good luck using crush 'n' run (that’s the mix that goes from 57 down to dust) for bases, plus 1 inch of fines on top. This setup avoids the sinking issues I've encountered with other patios, where the fines slip between larger stones over time. It really provides a solid base for pavers. Just my two cents!
Thanks for the tip! Just to clarify, is #57 down to dust the same as 3/4" clear gravel? Do you use 5 inches of that and then add the fines on top? And is a 1 inch fine the same as screening?