Don’t get overwhelmed with your DIY interlocking project. From adding walkways to the side of your home to building out a whole new patio, most homeowners are perfectly capable of doing their patio project themselves.

That said, we think some of the guides online are a little stuffy. It’s always a good idea to get extra pointers from your interlocking supply company because they are usually more than happy to help. In the meantime, read on for some of our essential tips for doing your interlocking project yourself.

What is the Best Base for Interlocking?

The standard base for interlocking is a combination of two materials, one of which is a thin sand layer and the other of which is any material that can be well-compacted. Options include:

- Concrete sand: Coarse-washed sand.
- High-performance bedding: These are quarter-inch-sized gravel pieces that are clean.
- Granular A: A mixture of gravel and sand.
- Stone dust: Limestone screenings and chips crushed down into dust.

How Do You Get the Pattern Right?

Maybe you know what you want your interlocking to look like, but you’re a little bit worried about just starting to put the stones down. What if you make a mistake? The pros take the stones and lay them out on a large, flat surface, like a driveway, to create the full pattern before installing a single stone. Then you just place each stone in the actual spot you’re installing it, starting from one corner and working out.

The Best Way to Do Interlocking

The best way to do interlocking is with a complete plan in place and all of your tools and materials collected before you start. Like with baking, you want to know the end of the recipe before you start. That gives you the best chance to follow all of the steps properly and end up with a great final result.

What is Connecting Pavers?

What is that stuff in between pavers? It’s not concrete or caulking. Instead, it is tamped down sand. The sand solidifies the connection between the pavers and repels weeds. You have a choice of the kind of sand you can use. You may use the same sand that you did for the base material, so long as it has irregular grain sizing, which ensures it will bind together smoothly. Or you can use polymeric sand, which is sand combined with a polymer which solidifies the sand after the first time it is rained on. The polymer keeps the sand in place for longer and may help to reduce weeds in between your interlocking pavers.

There are Different Interlocking Stones

There is far from just one brand or one type of interlocking stone. We have a large selection of different colours, textures and even shapes. For example, Rosebel slabs mimic the look of flagstone, while Eco-Priora is the typical paver shape.

If you’d like to learn more about interlocking stone or interlocking pavers, get in touch with our team at Van Beek’s Landscape Supply today.