Pavers base preparation

[exptrade]

I plan on using pavers around my pool with concrete coping. I have a dark, thick Texas clay for a base. So here is my plan on how to prepare it for pavers.

1. Level and compact soil with plate compator.
2. 3-4 inch layer of #57 Limestone gravel (1" -3/8" mixture), compact again
3. 1 inch road base over that, compact it while wet
4. 1.5" sand over that

Unfortunately, I cannot find anywhere 500 sqft of Mirafi 500X geo-textile, and using fabric from HD is useless from what I read. Any thoughts?

 

[JohnT]

Somewhere in that mix you may want a copper mesh for bonding or at the very least a single bond wire. Though code allows a single wire, I think the grid is better and safer, and many people in the industry agree http://ecmweb.com/contractor/debate-deep-end.

With clay underneath, I think I'd want more like 6" of #57.

 

[exptrade]

Sure, bonding wire must be present, as per code.

 

[JayBauman]

1. Level and compact soil with plate compator.
2. 3-4 inch layer of #57 Limestone gravel (1" -3/8" mixture), compact again
3. 1 inch road base over that, compact it while wet
4. 1.5" sand over that

This is consistent with how my PB built my paver decking on my pool just north of Houston. The only upgrade I had to do later was to use polymeric sand to lock the pavers in place. I got tired of wind and rain washing my paver sand into the pool. The polymeric sand greatly reduced these occurrences. Another option is to add some bagged concrete mix into the paver sand to help lock in the sand and keep it out of your water.