How to Keep Paver Stones from Moving

February 28, 2025

If you’ve ever spent time building a beautiful patio, walkway, or driveway using paver stones, you know the satisfaction of creating something lasting. But, as much as these stones add charm to your outdoor spaces, they can become a bit of a headache when they start shifting out of place. Whether you’re dealing with loose stones or uneven surfaces, there’s no need to panic. The good news is, there are simple and effective ways to keep your paver stones from moving. Let’s dive into the methods and tips you can use to ensure your pavers stay exactly where you want them.

Key Takeaways

Proper preparation of the ground is essential to prevent shifting.
Using the right materials for bedding and joint sand is crucial.
Regular maintenance, including checking for gaps and reapplying sand, will help keep everything in place.
Proper edging and compacting can greatly reduce the risk of movement.

Why Do Paver Stones Move?

Before jumping into solutions, it’s helpful to understand why paver stones move in the first place. The most common reasons are:

Improper Base Preparation: If the ground isn’t adequately prepared or compacted, the pavers will shift over time.
Poor Drainage: Water accumulation under the pavers can cause the base material to erode, leading to shifting.
Lack of Edging: Without proper edging, the pavers have nothing to hold them in place.
Heavy Traffic or Load: Too much weight on the pavers, especially in high-traffic areas, can cause them to move.

Now that we know why pavers shift, let’s explore the solutions.

Start with a Solid Base

The key to keeping your paver stones from moving lies in the preparation of the base. Without a well-compacted base, it’s like trying to build a house on sand—your pavers won’t stay in place for long.

How to Do It:

Excavate the Area: Dig down about 4-6 inches, depending on your project’s scale. This will allow enough room for a solid base.
Add Gravel: Use 3/4-inch crushed gravel for the base layer. This material provides good drainage and compaction.
Compact the Gravel: Use a mechanical plate compactor to ensure the gravel is tightly packed. This helps the base become sturdy and solid.
Add Sand: Spread a 1-inch layer of coarse sand over the gravel. This layer helps level out the surface for the pavers to sit evenly.

By starting with a strong, compacted base, you create a stable foundation that prevents shifting.

Choose the Right Bedding Sand

Bedding sand is the layer that sits right under the pavers. Choosing the right sand is critical in ensuring stability.

Best Sand to Use:

Coarse Sand: Coarse sand is ideal for bedding because it doesn’t shift easily. It provides a firm yet slightly flexible surface that holds the pavers in place.
Polymeric Sand: Some people opt for polymeric sand, which is treated with a binding agent that hardens when it gets wet. This creates a stronger bond between the pavers and minimizes the movement.

Make sure the bedding sand is spread evenly across the area. This ensures that each paver rests on a stable, level surface.

Install Edging

Without proper edging, paver stones have nothing to keep them from shifting over time. Edging holds the stones in place, preventing them from moving outward or inward.

Types of Edging:

Plastic or Metal Edging: These are easy to install and durable. Plastic is more flexible, while metal tends to be stronger.
Brick or Concrete Edging: For a more permanent solution, you can install brick or concrete blocks around the perimeter.
Timber Edging: Wooden timbers can also serve as an effective edge, especially if you’re going for a rustic or natural look.

Edging should be placed just below the surface of the pavers, securing them in place while still allowing for proper drainage.

Ensure Proper Drainage

Water is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to shifting pavers. If water accumulates underneath the stones, it can erode the sand and gravel, causing the pavers to sink or shift.

How to Improve Drainage:

Slope the Surface: Ensure the area has a slight slope away from buildings and toward a drainage area. This will prevent water from pooling underneath the pavers.
Install a French Drain: In areas prone to heavy rain or water retention, a French drain can help direct water away from the paver area.
Check for Blocked Drains: Ensure that nearby drains or gutters are clear of debris to prevent water buildup.

By keeping water from accumulating, you can prevent the erosion of your base layer and protect your pavers from shifting.

Compact the Pavers

Once your paver stones are in place, it’s important to compact them to help lock them into the bedding sand. This will reduce the likelihood of the stones moving over time.

How to Compact:

Use a Plate Compactor: Once all your pavers are laid, use a mechanical plate compactor to gently tap the pavers into place. This will help them settle into the sand and gravel below.
Tap with a Rubber Mallet: For a more hands-on approach, you can tap each stone into place using a rubber mallet. This works best for small-scale projects.

Be careful not to hit the edges too hard, as this can damage the stones or cause them to crack.

Fill in the Joints with Sand

After laying your pavers and compacting them, you should fill the joints between the stones with sand to lock them in place.

How to Do It:

Sweep Polymeric Sand into the Joints: Sweep sand into the gaps between your pavers. Polymeric sand is ideal because it hardens when wet, creating a stable, bondable surface.
Compact Again: After filling the joints, compact the entire area again to ensure the sand settles firmly into the gaps.

This step helps to further secure the pavers and prevents them from shifting under foot traffic or weather conditions.

Regular Maintenance

Over time, your pavers might still experience some shifting, even with all the right precautions. Regular maintenance can help keep them in place.

Maintenance Tips:

Reapply Sand: As the polymeric sand settles and hardens, you may need to reapply it to the joints every year or two.
Check for Shifting Stones: Occasionally check for any stones that may have shifted out of place. If you find any, just lift them, add more sand, and place them back.

By staying on top of these small maintenance tasks, you can keep your pavers looking great and in place for years to come.

Consider Professional Help

If you’ve followed all these steps and still find that your pavers are shifting, it might be time to call in a professional. Sometimes, issues like poor soil quality or a large-scale project may require expert intervention.

A professional can assess the situation, adjust the base, and ensure that everything is level and stable.

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