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Gravel is crucial to your paver patio’s drainage, meaning it plays a massive role in the lifetime of your patio. Gravel holds the pavers in place and allows water to move away from your patio to prevent erosion or stone damage. 

Without gravel, your paver patio will need replacing much sooner, and in the meantime, water damage and potential weed growth will cause you a lot of headaches.

Yes, you really need sand under pavers. Sand helps fill the gaps of gravel without impacting your foundation’s drainage. It helps create an even and stable layer for your pavers that lessens their ability to move over time. It also gives you a little bit of support during installation, allowing you to move the pavers as needed to get them in the right spot.

Most professional permeable paver installations take between 2 and 7 days, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Small patios or walkways may only take a few days, while large driveways with deep base layers, edging, and drainage components can take a full week or more. Weather, access to the site, and whether demolition is needed also affect the timeline.

The best way to cut concrete pavers is with a circular saw or angle grinder, but you’ll need a diamond blade made for cutting masonry. If you have a lot of cuts to make, you may want to opt for a wet saw to cut your pavers instead.