I want to lay a square patio of stone pavers in my front yard. Is this doable with little DIY experience? If so, how do I do it and how long will it take? Also, any idea of how much it would cost if the space is 10-feet-by-10-feet?

In a short weekend you can easily add value and beauty to your landscape by creating a new patio. There are many different sizes, shapes and colors of paving stones that can be used to create an attractive patio. Additionally, you can usually choose from several different patterns to lay out your patio. For example, one of the more popular paving stones used is a Holland paver. This stone can be laid out in either a herringbone pattern or a basket weave pattern.

There are four basic steps to creating your patio: site preparation, base preparation/screening the sand, laying the stones and compacting the stones. However, first you will need to determine just how much to buy. This will depend upon the size of the stone you select. Your local home improvement store can help you determine the correct amount. In your example, using Holland pavers, we would want to buy 460 pavers.

Step 1: Site preparation • Determine the finished elevation. Lay out the area using string and stakes. Remove the grass and excavate soil to your desired project depth. Build a frame using aluminum or plastic edging. You can also use redwood or treated lumber.

Step 2: Base preparation • Spread approximately 1 inch of paver sand over the area. Cut a 2x4 about 30 inches. Place a notch 1.5 inches from either end. Use the 2x4 to screen or level the paver sand. Pack the sand with a hand tamp, or if one is not available, gently moisten the sand with a hose.

Step 3: Placing the stones • Start in one corner and place stones over the entire area. Be careful not to disrupt the sand base. Slide stones straight down instead of pulling them across the sand. Use your edge restraint to keep the pavers from moving.

Step 4: Compacting the stones • After laying the stones, sweep paver sand across the stones, filling joints.

Level of difficulty • Easy

Time • Can be done in a day, allow for a weekend your first time

Materials needed • 460 Holland pavers ($216), 20 bags of sand ($68), shovel ($10), stakes ($2), string ($1), 2x4 ($2), edge restraint ($20)

Dave Foster is the store manager for the Home Depot in Brentwood.