Sand for Paver Base
Coarse washed concrete sand (sometimes called paver sand or bedding sand) is the correct base layer under interlocking pavers, typically laid about 1 inch thick over a compacted gravel base. It's angular enough to lock pavers in place while still allowing fine leveling.
Play sand and masonry sand are the wrong choice here — they're too fine and don't compact or drain the way coarse paver sand does, leading to pavers that shift, sink, or develop ruts within a year or two.
Getting the base layers right (compacted gravel, then the correct sand, in the correct thicknesses) matters more to how long a paver installation lasts than almost any other factor.
Get a direct quote from Natural Stone Source Ontario for paver base material.
Choosing the Right Bedding Material
The bedding layer under pavers is thin and it is not the structural element. The compacted granular base beneath it is. Bedding should be a clean, sharp, well-graded sand laid to a consistent one inch and screeded, not thickened to level out a poor base. Using bedding sand to correct base irregularities is the most common cause of rutted, wavy paver surfaces a year or two on.
Rounded or fine sands hold water and migrate. A sharp, angular bedding material stays where it is put and locks under compaction. Keep the bedding layer uniform, because variation in bedding depth translates directly into settlement variation at the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick should the sand layer under pavers be?
About one inch, screeded to a consistent depth. Thicker bedding does not add strength, it settles unevenly. Depth and level should be corrected in the compacted granular base beneath, not in the bedding sand.
Can I use play sand or masonry sand under pavers?
No. Those sands are too fine and too rounded. They hold water, migrate under load and lead to ruts and dips. Use a coarse, sharp, well-graded bedding sand intended for the purpose.
What is the difference between bedding sand and joint sand?
Bedding sand goes under the pavers as a setting layer. Joint sand is swept into the gaps afterwards to lock the units together. Polymeric joint sand hardens when wetted and resists washout and weed growth, but it is not a substitute for proper bedding.
What goes under the bedding sand?
A compacted granular base, typically four to six inches for pedestrian areas and more for driveways, over a prepared subgrade. That base carries the load. The bedding sand only sets the pavers to a consistent line.