Where it started
A gravel pad under the deck, with the pavers stacked and waiting.
Stone patio
A paver patio under the deck — a three-colour pattern, a curved walkway, and a porch step, every brick placed in CAD before it was placed on site.
The result
Pavers laid under the deck and around the posts.
CAD model
Patio, landing, and path modeled in Onshape — with a bill of materials pulled straight from the model.
Open the 3D modelFrom sketch to model
Three months of design, in order — pattern, levels, steps, and every cut worked out on screen first. Tap a drawing to see it full size.
The client's sketch
The pattern idea, drawn on paper — where the design started.
First layout
The pattern laid out brick by brick, with a count of each colour pulled from the model.
Pinwheel pattern
Trying a pinwheel pattern, with a detail of how it fits around the step.
Adding the landing
The patio modeled against the house, with a landing and the start of the walkway.
Border and walkway
A border course with rounded corners, and the walkway curving off to the side.
Dimensioned plan
The full pattern in three colours, dimensioned for layout on site.
Base plan
The dig and gravel base outlined and dimensioned off the deck posts.
Checking the steps
A 7.5" porch step and a small step the height of one brick — both checked in the model.
Curved walkway
Edge bricks fanned around the curve, sitting on the base below.
Cutting the path
Every cut brick on the walkway drawn before the saw came out.
Final plan
Main patio, border, curved walkway, and porch step — the model the build followed.
On site
Laser, string lines, and the drawing on a clipboard — the model, carried onto the gravel.
Laser level
A self-levelling line laser sets grade across the whole site.
Setting the height
Laser line on a test paver to set the finished height along the house.
String matrix
Compacted base with a grid of string lines and a straightedge.
Drawing on the job
The printed pattern beside the work, checked row by row.
First rows
Pavers laid along the house, each row landing on its string line.
Working outward
The pattern working out from the house across the grid.
Filling in
The main field filling in, row by row.
The process
Start to finish
- Design with the client — Model the patio in CAD and work through the pattern together.
- Order materials — Pavers, base, and sand, with quantities from the model.
- Prep the site — Clear and dig out the area.
- Compact and level — Run the compactor and level the base.
- Brick matrix — String a grid of lines and lay the bricks to it.
- Cut the walkway — Saw-cut the pavers to shape the walkway.
- Sand the bricks — Sweep sand into the joints.
- Topsoil and seed — Fill in around the edges and seed.
Lessons learned
01
A concrete saw is necessary
You can't cut pavers cleanly without one.
02
CAD is critical
The pattern, the cuts, and the material counts all come out of the model.
03
Set up a matrix of lines
A grid of string lines gets every stone roughly in the right place, so small errors don't compound across the patio.
04
Bricks are heavy
Plan how you'll move them before they arrive.
05
Rent a front end loader
Landscaping is much easier with one.