• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partner with Taryn

Taryn Whiteaker Designs

DIY and Interior Blog

  • My Home Tour
  • Shop My Pics
  • Home Styling
    • Room Reveals
      • Our Current Home
      • Our First Home
    • Seasonal Home Tours
  • DIY Projects
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Crafts & Sewing
    • Before and Afters
    • Before and Afters
    • Furniture Builds and Makeovers
  • Seasonal Decor
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Spring
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Printables
  • Entertaining
    • Parties
    • Tablescapes
  • Fashion
  • Travel

March 2, 2018

How To Install A Stone Patio

Thanks For Sharing!

This post is a collaboration with 3M™ TEKK Protection™ Brand, but all words and opinions are my own.

50 hours later, two shattered iPhones and a lot of sore muscles, and our new 230 square foot stone patio is finally complete! My husband has wanted to build a new patio and outdoor living space since we’ve been married, but I have shot him down for the last 5 years because there always seems to be a higher priority DIY project to work on. Well, he finally got his wish and I couldn’t be happier with the result, I am SO glad we took the plunge (I should have listened to him a long time ago). I’m happy to say our backyard is finally taking shape thanks to some great team work, a lot of long days and dedication. Even though it took us about 4 times longer than we expected, I am so in love with how it turned out. So worth it. So here are my tips on how to install a stone patio!

Tips for Installing A Stone Patio

This may be the longest post you’ve read here on DDD, but I’m here to tell you all about how to install a stone patio and a few tips from our experience. If you are willing to spend the time and get your hands dirty, go for it.

How to Install A Stone Patio

So what do you think?!

When we were preparing to take on this project, we did A LOT of research. Neither of us had done anything like this before and we wanted to make sure we did it right (you can view some of our research on Pinterest here). Almost every tutorial and article we read estimated that the project would take us 8-10 hours or a full weekend max. I wish that were the case. Maybe for a professional with a team of 5 men. Not for an average couple who likes to take on new DIY projects.

May be it was because we are amateurs or maybe it was because we are perfectionists, but this took roughly 40-50 hours between the two of us. We felt like it was never going to end. There are definitely ways we could have saved time (more on that below) but if you are looking into putting in your own stone patio, allow for a lot of time, patience and ask for help! Don’t get me wrong, every single hour we put it into it was worth it because we are so in love with the final result, BUT it is a very long and tedious process.

Here is what we started with.

Patio Before.

Our backyard had a very basic builder’s grade ‘patio’ when my husband bought the house. I wouldn’t even call it a patio though, it was more of a cement slab that wasn’t even big enough for a BBQ and a small table and chairs (barely). And it sank in the center, which caused water to pool and it would leave a huge rusty spot every winter. It was time for an upgrade.

Full disclosure here, we are not professionals, this is simply how we decided to go about the project and what worked for us!

DIY Stone Patio Supply List

 

Safety Gear

Safety Gear Collage

1. Digital WorkTunes™ Hearing Protector and AM/FM Stereo Radio 2.Holmes Workwear™ Premium Safety Eyewear 3.Valved Respirator Mask 4. Gloves 5. Holmes Workwear™ Safety Eyewear with CCS Technology 6. More from 3M TEKK Protection Line

Tools and Supplies Tool Collage

1. Chalk 2. hammer 3. >Rubber Mallet4.>Square Point Shovel 5.Round Point Shovel 6.>Rake 7. >Brush Works 8. >Mason Line 9. >Line Level 10. >Wooden Stakes 11. Beam Level 12. Scotch Pro Strength Duct Tape 13. Wheelbarrow 14. Jack Hammer 15. Plate Compactor 16. Ryobi Angle Grinder with diamond blade

*These are not the exact tools we used for the project, rather examples.

Steps For Building Your Own Stone Patio

IMG_0474

To start the process, we needed to remove our current ‘patio’. Believe it or not, this was the easiest part of the entire project! To prepare the space, we taped up tarps around all of the windows to prevent any stray rocks from hitting them and cleared the space.

Removing Your Old Patio

IMG_0481

We don’t own a jack hammer so we rented one for a few hours. Some people will tell you that you can use a sledge hammer to take out the patio, but in our opinion that is just a waste of time and energy. We spent $90 on the jack hammer rental and it only took my husband 3 hours to rip it out. We chose to keep our current step because it was still in good shape and it would save us from building a new one.

And since we are working with power tools, you’ll see he is wearing the appropriate protection including the 3M TEKK Protection Digital WorkTunes which are soundproof and have a AM/FM radio built in. My hubby could listen to the Mariner game while working and he was pretty excited about that. He is also wearing safety glasses and gloves.

Tip: When disposing of your cement, look into a local top soils place instead of paying the dumping fee. It only cost us $20 to dispose all of our cement compared to paying a couple of hundred at the dump

IMG_0865

Once the area is cleared, it’s time to plan out your patio. Do you want it to be square, rounded, curved. There are so many options. We went with a more rounded look to keep it organic. Once we decided on the shape, we used a marker (you can use spray paint, chalk, etc) and drew a rough outline on the grass to give us an idea of where to start digging.

You will want to dig out somewhere between 7-10″, depending on what layers you decide on. We went with a 10″ depth to allow for more drainage since we live in a rainy part of the country.

Tip: After going through this process, we suggest setting up your lines (see below) before you start digging to help you dig evenly throughout the area. We discovered that a few areas in the middle were 12″+ because we were just estimating as we went along, so we had to fill more later and level it all out.

Leveling Your New Patio

Level Collage

Now here comes one of the most important parts of the entire process. Laying your strings for leveling. This whole process deals with a lot of math (not my strong point) so it took us a little while to get it right. It wasn’t until my father-in-law stopped by one night and helped us set ours up that it actually made sense to me (Looking back, I suggest doing this before you start digging).

I could write a whole post on the process, but here is a quick overview. The strings are basically a way of keeping your patio level. Our yard, like most in of yours too, is not level in the least bit, but the patio needs to be. Therefore you can’t follow the grass line or else you’ll have a slanted patio.

Start by setting up a few stakes along the side of your house and mark them at the height that you want your patio (make sure they are all the same height by using a leveler). Then put additional stakes on the opposite side of the patio and connect them with a tight string. The more strings you put up, the easier it will be to keep the patio level. Using a string leveler, adjust the string on the stake on the opposite side of the house until it is completely level with the stake near the house. Now, in order to help the water drain from your patio you need to angle your patio 1/2″ for every 8 ft. So for us, our patio needed to slope an entire inch away from the house. So once you find your slope, move your string down 1″ (that’s what worked for us) on the stakes opposite of the house. The strings won’t be level any more, but will now be a guide to keeping your patio level with the appropriate slant.

Now it’s time to start your layers.

IMG_0876

We started the process by putting down landscape fabric specifically designed to help prevent weeds from growing under patios.

IMG_0888

Next, comes to the crushed gravel. We bought enough to have a 3″ layer of gravel, but we think the place must have given us some extra because we ended up with 5″ of gravel. Which worked in our favor since we dug a little deeper than expected.

You’ll need to use a plate compactor to level each layer. We did this for every 1-2″ of gravel and it helped keep the surface compact and level. Some tutorials say you can use a hand tamper, but that would take FOREVER so we rented a plate compactor. Each level only took 10 minutes to compact, well worth the money in my mind. After each level, measure the base of the patio to the strings, it should be the same distance from the gravel to the strings the entire way around the patio, so in order to make your slope you’ll need to fill some areas more than others.

Tip: We thought we were saving money by making several trips to the top soils place instead of paying the delivery charge. However, little did we know a standard truck only holds about 1/2 cubic yard of gravel so my husband had to take about 8 trips to the top soils place, shovel each load onto the driveway and then start again. This literally took an entire day. We could have saved a day by just paying the delivery fee and they would have dumped it on our drive way for us and we could have kept working.

IMG_0892

The next layer is the sand. We put in about 3-5″ depending on the area.

IMG_0895

And like the previous step, compact after each 1-2″ and measure the distance from the strings to the base to make sure everything is equal distance.

IMG_0905

Now the fun part, laying the stone.

IMG_0904

We chose a pre-cut Arcadian Portage Patio Paver Stone found at Lowes. I liked the color and loved the fact that each piece fit perfectly together in a pattern, which saves time on installation.

Installation Collage
Patio Progress

You start by laying three pieces together right in the middle. This creates the pattern and then it spreads out from there. We thought this part would go by quickly considering we just had to piece them together, but each piece took anywhere from 5-20 minutes because we had to make sure each piece was level and secure. So 15 minutes X 160 stones, yeah you do the math. Even though we compacted the sand the best we could, there were still areas that were uneven, so we had to move some sand around as we went.  For this you’ll need a leveler and a mallet to gently tap each stone in place.

IMG_0962

After you have all of the solid pieces in place, it’s time to cut the edge pieces and tiny pieces to fit against the house. To do this, we laid the pieces in place (the best we could) and then marked the area we wanted to cut with chalk. I wanted the patio to have a real organic and natural look, versus being completely squared off, so we chose to cut the pieces at a angle.

IMG_0967

To cut each piece, my husband suited up in his 3M™ TEKK Protection™ gear and used a Hand Grinder with a Diamond Blade. It worked like a charm.

IMG_0968

IMG_0987

Once all of the pieces are in place, the final step is to fill the cracks with sand. While most people will tell you you can use left over base layer sand, we chose to upgrade to Polymeric Sand which is supposed to help prevent weeds and it also hardens to help keep the stones in place. In just 24 hours we’ve noticed a HUGE different. The sand is hardening and the rocks are really secure. We honestly don’t think it would be this secure if we used regular sand. Two thumbs up.

IMG_0981

The last step for us was to cover our existing patio step with the stone. We mortared over the cement to secure the stone and then comes the grout, which I’m still deciding on!

DIY Stone Patio Before and After by Design, Dining + Diapers

Oh what a different a new patio makes! I’m SO excited for BBQ’s this summer!

Stone Patio Installation by Design, Dining + Diapers

And now comes the fun part, turning this patio into a real outdoor living space. We have several more big projects planned for this space and our backyard, I never thought I would see this all come together. Now…. I think it’s time we reward ourselves and purchase some new patio furniture!

So what do you think, was it worth the work?! :)

So there you have it. Are you ready to start your own patio? If you are, then don’t forget to start with the proper safety gear. You can learn more about the 3M™ TEKK Protection™ line and also follow  3M DIY on Facebook and 3M DIY on Twitter.

This post is a collaboration with 3M™ TEKK Protection™ Brand, but all words and opinions are my own.

SaveSave

SaveSave

About Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.

You May Also Like:

  • Patio Door Ideas
    Patio Door Ideas
  • DIY Stone Vases
    DIY Stone Vases
  • Summer Patio Decor
    Summer Patio Decor
  • White Wash Stone Fireplace
    White Wash Stone Fireplace
  • Stone Fireplace Makeover
    Stone Fireplace Makeover
  • Light Stone Fireplace Inspiration
    Light Stone Fireplace Inspiration
  • German Schmear Stone Fireplace
    German Schmear Stone Fireplace
  • Neutral Outdoor Patio Decor
    Neutral Outdoor Patio Decor

Filed Under: ALL POSTS, Before and Afters, DIY Home Decor, DIY Projects, Our First Home, Our Home Projects, Sponsored Tagged With: Before & After, DIY, my home

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gina says

    May 2, 2013 at 6:33 am

    GORGEOUS Taryn- love how it turned out. Must feel nice to have more space there too.

    Reply
  2. Tori says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Looks great Taryn!!

    Reply
  3. Kristin Cadwallader says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:24 am

    That looks so much better! Love it! xo Kristin

    Reply
  4. Jo-Anna says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:39 am

    Your patio looks amazing! Looks like it was a lot of hard work, but well worth it! Happy Patio-ing! ;)

    Reply
  5. Sarah @ An Inviting Home says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:47 am

    We put a patio in at our first house…it took all summer and then we found out that we were moving (because of our family doubling) and had to say goodbye to that beautiful patio. It is truly the one thing that I miss from our old house and I don’t know if I have the stamina to try creating one again so soon. :-) Filling the sand in the cracks was my favorite part! You guys did a GREAT job! I can tell how much hard work went into it and the beauty shows!

    ~Sarah

    Reply
  6. Ashley C. says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:47 am

    Wow – what an undertaking! A true DIY! You guys will LOVE having more outdoor space because seriously around these parts, even though it’s not sunny all that often, when it is, you best be outside! It looks awesome!

    Reply
  7. Emily says

    May 2, 2013 at 7:49 am

    It looks awesome!! I’m totally inspired to do ours now :). Great job!!

    Reply
  8. Carrie A. says

    May 2, 2013 at 8:56 am

    We just had my BIL tear out our old BROWN (bleh) deck and put in a patio last Fall! We are finally enjoying it this Spring! It really does make such a huge difference, I can’t wait to decorate the space now!

    Reply
  9. Gajay says

    May 2, 2013 at 10:47 am

    Wow what a beautiful work, looks really nice, now all you need to do is grab a drink and enjoy the new patio : )
    Cheers!

    Reply
  10. Ginny @ Goofy Monkeys says

    May 2, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    That looks fantastic! The hard work pays off!

    Reply
  11. Chelsea @ Making Home Base says

    May 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    It looks amazing, T! I can imagine it was really hard work but it looks like it was definitely worth it! You enjoy those summer bbqs :)

    Reply
  12. Liz Marie says

    May 2, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    Looks amazing! Such a great transformation :) Great post girly! xx Liz Marie

    Reply
  13. carmel says

    May 2, 2013 at 4:33 pm

    You should be so proud! It looks fantastic!

    Reply
  14. Tonya @ Love of Family & Home says

    May 2, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    This looks AMAZING Taryn!! You guys did a fantastic job!! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

    Reply
  15. Aimee - It's Overflowing says

    May 2, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    How beautiful! We need to do something about our back porch…this is great inspiration!!! XO, Aimee

    Reply
  16. [email protected] Blissfully Ever After says

    May 2, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    This looks fabulous, Taryn!!!! I love your choice of stone and it is definitely a BIG improvement from the before photo. Great job!
    xo, Jennifer

    Reply
  17. Jenn says

    May 2, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    It looks fabulous Taryn! Hope your dog likes it as much as you do! ;)
    Jenn

    Reply
  18. Daniela @frugal ain't cheap says

    May 2, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    you guys did great! love the look and the feel. well done

    Reply
  19. Hillary says

    May 3, 2013 at 5:32 am

    Holy heck! What a GREAT tutorial! My sister in law and brother just did a paver patio and had all kinds of problems with it… wish they could’ve waited and read this first!!

    Reply
  20. Shayna @ The Wood Grain Cottage says

    May 3, 2013 at 5:34 am

    This. Is. Fabulous. ! You two did a wonderful job- and you’re going to love spending time outside! :)

    Reply
  21. Shauna says

    May 3, 2013 at 7:36 am

    Looks amazing! I want to do something similar and have been putting it off because of the cost. Can you share an estimate on how much you spent?

    Reply
    • Taryn says

      May 5, 2013 at 2:43 pm

      Hey Shauna!

      It cost us right around $1,500, but that included all tool rentals, new tool purchases, a truck rental for a day and stuff like that. The actual stone only costs us $570, we lucked out by getting it 20% at Lowes and saved about $150. So if you have tools and own a truck, you may be able to do it for cheaper.

      Hope that helps!

      Taryn

      Reply
      • Shauna says

        May 5, 2013 at 5:40 pm

        Thank you so much, that does help!

        Reply
  22. Mandy Rose says

    May 3, 2013 at 9:19 am

    This looks AMAZING girl! Such hard work too…I’m totally impressed! Definitely pinning this fabulous tutorial for future reference!

    Reply
  23. Gracielle says

    May 3, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    Looks amazing! We need our entire patio to be reset so I read through this post…this was a great tutorial, but super intimidating!!! I’m going to share with my hubs and see if he’s up for the challenge!

    Reply
  24. bekah says

    May 6, 2013 at 6:52 am

    It looks great!!

    Reply
  25. Hani Shabbir says

    May 6, 2013 at 10:11 am

    Wow.. The stone patio looks beautiful.. I can’t wait to see your next patio project. :)

    Reply
  26. Ellora @ Creatively Southern says

    May 6, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    Your patio looks amazing! Just think of all the fun you’ll have enjoying the new space this summer! I know it was a lot of hard work, but it certainly paid off!

    Reply
  27. Angela says

    May 7, 2013 at 5:39 am

    Wow, what a amazing difference. It looks wonderful. Found you on Show me what Ya got! You can find me painting, decorating and baking on HickoryTrail

    Reply
  28. Megan says

    May 7, 2013 at 5:45 am

    It turned out beautiful! All that hard work really paid off! Enjoy your new outdoor space.

    Reply
  29. Stacy Risenmay says

    May 7, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    Doing things the right way takes so much longer but it totally worth it. It looks stunning! I can’t wait to see how you decorate :)

    Reply
  30. [email protected] Stroll Thru Life says

    May 11, 2013 at 11:04 am

    YOur new patio is fabulous and what a great tutorial and job. So nice to have enough space to really enjoy and entertain. Beautiful Amazing finish. I have a weekly party called Inspire Me and it goes lives every Monday evening. I would so love for you to link this or any other project to my party. http://www.astrollthrulife.net
    Hope to see you there. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  31. Christine says

    May 14, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    How awesome is that!!! I really need to do that in my backyard too!

    Reply
  32. jessica @fourgenerationsoneroof says

    May 14, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    This turned out great! Nicely done :) Pinned to the better homes and gardens board

    Reply
  33. Elizabeth Browning says

    May 14, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    Hello! I love the final product!!! We just bought our first home. We want to do a patio like yours. Our budget is about $1800, how much did you guys spend? Thank you

    Reply
  34. kristin says

    June 3, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    WOW it is gorgeous! Lots of work and so worth it!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  35. Aly says

    June 3, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    this is amazing… I need to do it!

    Reply
  36. Sharon says

    June 3, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    The patio is beautiful, Taryn. I’m impressed with all of the the hard work y’all have put into. It will be well worth it when you’re relaxing in your new outdoor space this summer.

    Reply
  37. Inspire Me Heather says

    June 4, 2013 at 6:27 am

    Wow, what a job! It sure looks great though, sooo much better!

    Reply
  38. Jenna, SASinteriors.net says

    June 7, 2013 at 3:46 am

    WOW, this is super impressive Taryn. What a fantastic job. I have always wanted to lay a stone patio, but was clueless at how to do it. This is such a great tutorial. Sharing it later today. xo Jenna

    Reply
  39. Andrea says

    January 13, 2014 at 7:39 am

    I love it. We have been talking about pulling up the concrete pad and laying tiles of some sort or just putting them on top. Yours looks great!

    Reply
  40. Shelly Lumley says

    March 30, 2016 at 12:37 pm

    I love the idea and the tutorial. However, I am responding due to your name… Taryn. My daughter also named Taryn, was born in 1986. At that time, I had only heard of one other child with that name. I saw the name in a Parent’s Magazine at one of my OB appointments and instantly fell in love with it. My daughter was murdered, along with her fiancé, in 2008, leaving 2 small children. I know you didn’t pick your name and I am curious where your parents may have seen or heard of it since it is so unique. Even 30 years, later, the name is more common, but still very unique. I wish you peace and happiness in your endeavors. Monday, March 28, was my daughter’s birthday. We released purple balloons to celebrate her life with us.

    Reply
    • Taryn says

      March 30, 2016 at 2:09 pm

      Hi Shelly, thank you so much for your note. I am so incredibly sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. As a parent, I cannot even begin to imagine what you have been through. My deepest condolences. My mom heard the name Taryn on TV. She was watching a talk show when she was pregnant with my oldest brother and the famous movie star Tyrone Powers was on, he mentioned he was naming his daughter Taryn. My maiden name starts with a P and my mom thought it was a great fit. She waited 8 years after that to have a girl and name her Taryn (I have two older brothers). So that is how I got my name :)

      Reply
  41. ivory says

    April 20, 2018 at 7:32 am

    You and your husband did an excellent job. I love that you increased the size of your patio. the overall results are fabulous.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Looking For Something?

CONNECT

Meet Taryn

Taryn Whiteaker

Hi and welcome! I'm Taryn and the voice of style behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. Recent transplant from Seattle to Dallas. Sharing our journey of modernizing our European style home. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list to get all the latest updates! Read more...

Join The Mailing List!

Follow On Instagram!

Footer

THIS SITE

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partner with Taryn

Privacy Policy

If you are interested in learning more about data that might be collected by this site you are encouraged to read the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for TarynWhiteaker.com 

COPYRIGHT POLICY

All images on this site are copyright of Design, Dining and Diapers, LLC. Unless otherwise noted. You may not use these images without written permission. If you would like to feature a project shown on Design, Dining and Diapers you may use a maximum of 2 images and include a visible link back to the project.

Copyright© 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Hosting by 3116 Digital