Pave the Perfect Path for Summer Entertaining

With summertime taking over most of our backyards, we wanted to make sure ours is up to date for hosting family and friends. Rachel Metz of Living to DIY revamped her entire backyard, creating the perfectly paved space for any outdoor entertaining needs.

Creating an Outdoor Oasis

Summertime is just around the corner, and I am feeling inspired! When The Home Depot reached out to me to spruce a space up utilizing their beautiful selection of Rumblestone Pavers, I jumped at the chance to update my space for my parents. My dad is the one who taught me all the carpentry things I know, and he is always in the middle of a project. I’m going to walk you through some tips, tricks and even the install process of how I designed the perfect outdoor oasis for all our outdoor entertaining needs!

Out with the Old

When we got rid of the old backyard pavers, it screamed “double entertaining zone.”

The Fireplace

Fireplaces kick any and every outdoor space up a notch. If you have the budget, I highly recommend planning to include one that fits your style, space and use. This wall was begging to be a focal point, so my dad and I got to work.

An installation manual comes with the fireplace. So, don’t stress thinking you need to figure this out solo. If you do decide to go with the Rumblestone Fireplace, be sure to set aside a good chunk of your time and grab a friend to help!

We started by outlining the space. When we had our hearts set, we leveled the spot where the foundation needed to be poured. You must prep the proper foundation for a massive fireplace like this. Reinforced with some rebar, we poured the concrete and let it dry.

The manual provided with the fireplace lays out the process with color coordinated steps to help you maneuver your way through the build. This thing is out of control in the best way possible. When my mom walked out, she totally lost her mind!

Prep Your Space and Install Backyard Pavers

Once the fireplace was in, it was time to lay the pavers for the rest of the courtyard. We had a lot of dirt to dig up, layer and level before actually paving.

We used PVC to lay across the courtyard. Then we placed paver base sand around it and pushed it to level.

Pour the sand and fill to your desired height, then tamp it down to ensure it is packed tight. We decided to try out these paver base panels that interlock and are easy to cut down to fit whatever shape you’re paving out.

The design and pattern is all personal preference. So, we decided to lay out a border of larger backyard pavers then fill in with the pattern my dad created. In spaces where it gets a little tight for full pavers, cut them down to size with a tile saw.

Once all pavers are laid down, grab some paver joint sand and sweep it in until the gaps are full.

Pro tip: Keep sweeping into the grooves and smack the broom onto the pavers to see if any sand falls down the cracks. If holes continue to show up, continue to sweep the sand in. You can also rent a vibrating plate from Home Depot’s Rental Center to help. Wet it and let it dry.

Enjoy the Complete Project

Now go ahead and let your imagination run wild. Decorate to your family’s preference and entertaining needs. I hope my transformation inspires you tackle a space (no matter what size) to bring all your outdoor entertaining dreams to reality. You got this!

Find more patio ideas and inspiration on the The Home Depot blog.

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