Tools & Equipment Checklist

Rubber Mallet

Essential for setting natural stone without chipping. Never use a metal hammer directly on marble, travertine, or limestone — the surface will crack or chip. Use a rubber mallet with a wood block for better coverage.

Screed Pipes (1" diameter)

Used as guides for screeding the bedding sand layer to a consistent 1" depth. Set them parallel at the correct spacing for your screed board width, screed the sand, then remove and fill the channels.

4-Foot Level

Check drainage slope during base installation and verify each paver is level after setting. A 4-foot level is more accurate than shorter levels for checking slope across multiple pavers.

Tape Measure & String Line

For marking perimeter, establishing layout lines, and keeping pattern rows straight. String lines are especially important for herringbone and French pattern layouts.

Plate Compactor

Required for compacting the base aggregate in lifts. Also used (with a rubber pad attached) to final-compact the installed pavers and drive them into the bedding layer. Rent from any equipment rental company — typically $80-120/day.

Wet Saw with Diamond Blade

For cutting natural stone to fit edges and around obstacles. Must be a wet saw — dry cutting generates heat that cracks marble and travertine. Use a diamond blade rated for natural stone. Rent if you only need it occasionally.

Angle Grinder with Diamond Wheel

For smaller cuts and shaping around curves. Used wet when possible. Useful for pool deck work where curved cuts are common.

Compactor Rubber Pad

A rubber pad that attaches to the plate compactor base plate for final compaction over installed pavers. Without it the steel compactor plate will scratch and chip the stone surface. Often available to rent with the compactor.