How To Install Porcelain Pavers

Step 4: Install Your Stone Base

Once the fabric is installed, it is time to install the gravel substrate.

Once the stone base is installed, use a tamper to pack the gravel; otherwise, it will shift over time and damage the porcelain paver joints.

If you are worried about erosion, install a geogrid to prevent the base from shifting.

For small to medium job we use the Eterra Mix-N-Go 450.
Which is attachable to your skid loader. With discharge on the side and the bottom.
Your bags are also easily breakable on its top grate. 

Next you’ll want to have:

• GFTK VDW 480 Bedding Mortar
• 1/4->3/8in. Chip Stone. Washed and clean.  
• Water Hose

Step 5: Prepare the Bedding System

We recommend using a compulsory or auger mixer to mix the bedding compound.
Check the manufacturer’s mixing ratios before mixing.
The recommended for GFTK’s Trass mortar bedding system for pedestrian traffic is as follows.

One 55 pound VDW 480
6 Parts washed and clean stone. 1/4 ->3/8in.
One 5 gallon Bucket it equal to one 55 pound bag.
2 -> 2 & 1/2 gallons of clean water per 55 lb of bedding compound. Take note of wet/damp aggregate and adjust the water ratio accordingly.

Step 6: Porcelain Paver Mortar Bed Application

Now that your bedding compound is mixed, it is time to apply it to the gravel base. Apply the bedding mortar in layers of 1.5″ to 4″. Since porcelain pavers are uniform in thickness, it is essential to level the mortar bed before installing porcelain pavers. A screed bar is the best way to make the mortar bed level.
After installing the mortar bed, it must be protected from drying out too quickly. Wait at least 24 hours before installing the porcelain pavers and the adhesion elutrant.

Tools Needed To Get The Job Done! 

• Bucket
• Water Hose
• Your GFTK VDW 495
  
• Auger or appropriate paddle mixer
• Power unit 
• Long Level
• Dead blow mallet
• Piece of plywood for weight distribution on small tiles.   
• And if using a dipping method. Build out or have a small tray next to you. That way you can easily and quickly apply your elutriant without dripping or having to get up off a smaller format tile.

Step 7: Mix Bonding Compound

• First put a little water in your bucket. Then add your 495.
  Use your auger mixer or an appropriate paddle mixer.
• Add water occasionally throughout the mixing process. 
• Add extra water to make the elutriant softer if you are using a dipping method.

Step 8: Apply Bonding Compound

We recommend using a ¼” x ¼” trowel to apply the Adhesion Elutriant.

Use the trowel to apply the slurry to the back of the porcelain paver. Any spill on the side of the paver should be removed with a damp sponge or cloth to allow a clean joint for your jointing compound. Once the compound is applied, you can install the pavers.

Once that is done, it’s time to get to the nitty gritty. DO NOT pour all of your mortar out at once!

You should ideally be spreading it over in little sections. (Enough to cover about 4 pavers at a time.) Just like other surfaces, you need to leave space between your pavers. In this case, about 2″ space is enough. If you can’t eye it, you can invest in a paver spacer tool to help you out.

Pictured here are 4in by 8in pavers placed a haring bone pattern.

• Its always good to dry lay a few pieces just top make sure your pattern is correct before you start buttering and setting your pavers for good.
  Again the elutriant is runny so that the dipping method can be used.

• For small pavers its good to use a piece of plywood out over your set tiles to spread out your weight load.
• Try to keep the top surface of your pavers clean. But you can lay multiple small pieces before checking to make sure they are level. Its also helpful to run strong lines to keep your lines nice and straight.

*If you are installing lights in/around your pavers:
Make sure to pre-mark where your conduits are so they are easy to find/drill for later after everything has set.

• Once your ready to check your pavers, make sure to have your long level and a good dead blow hammer in hand. You want to use both to make sure everything is staying flat. 

To not make a mess of your tiles and workspaces.
Its helpful to be set up on a table.

• Tooling from the piece that you need over to the next piece is best practice.
  This keeps the Elutriant consistency of your larger pavers effiecent and smooth.

When laying lager format tiles:

• And kind of vacuum equipment helps give you extra control in the carrying and placement of your tiles.
  It also helps keep your fingers out of the mud.
  We use the Grabo Pro-Lifter
• Make sure to again coordinate and measure everything ahead of time before you start laying. Because once the system is set. Its designed to say that way.

Tools Needed To Get The Job Done! 

• Gloves are very helpful with the 2 part epoxy resins, but not necessary.

• VDW 815 or VDW 520

• Are a garden hose. 

• An auger(or appropriate paddle mixer) 

• A 18 volt drill unit

• A Squeegee for the first pass. 

• A corse broom for the first sweep

• And a softer broom to finish up/clean up.

Step 10: Prep the Surface

Always use clean water. Clean the surface thoroughly of dirt, cement residue, or other contaminants.

Thoroughly pre-wet the surface and mask any adjacent surfaces not to be jointed. We also recommend using a Hydrobroom to speed up the process

The VDW 815 Plus is a two part packaged set. 

• With one part coming already pre mixed in the bucket. With the second part being is the activator which comes in a bottle.
• Once mixed together it will create a slurry that will go right into the joints.
• Its designed for 1/8th inch joint or bigger. But still works great if you have joinst measuring a 1/16th of an inch. 

Before adding your activator its always best to mix up your Part A mix for 15 to 30 seconds.

• Once the activator or Part B has been added.
• Go ahead and mix it for approximialty two minutes.

Your looking for a nice and creamy consistency with some white foam. 

• Apply the mixed compound directly to the pre-wetted surface of the porcelain pavers.
• Keep adding water during installation as you want to 2 part components to be flowable.
• Use your squeegee to move/flow the resin into the joints.
• Keep adding small amounts of water as needed as you work in different sections or spaces. 

After about 10 minutes the jointing will start setting up and will no longer be pliable.

• Once done with the squeegee.
  Use your corse broom to work the material into joints and border joints.
• Unlike pavers with a chamfered edege. Smooth pavers can have these joints filled full. and you can always come back later by hand to fill in areas previously missed.

• Remove any excess epoxy compounds within five minutes by spraying lightly with a hose.
• Be careful to clean the surface towards areas that need to be jointed or towards the lowest point. You don’t want to let water with the residue pool and dry out on the completed areas.
• Finally, remove any remaining residue with a damp coconut fiber brush.
• Clean the brush with water frequently.
• Don’t brush any dried material into unfilled joints, as it will compromise the joint.
• You may notice a white film washing away while installing the jointing compound—no need to worry about the white film, as it is normal.

Here is a recap of how to install porcelain pavers:

1. Plan And Mark Area
2. Gather Necessary Tools
3. Install Fabric
4. Install Your Stone Base
5. Prepare The Bedding System
6. Install The Mortar Bedding system.
7. Mix Bonding compound
8. Apply bonding compound
9. And Install the porcelain pavers.
10. Prep The Surface
11. Mix Jointing Compound For Smaller Pavers
12. Applying the Jointing compound. 
13. Clean The Surface & Clean up!