- 1). Skim the grass off of the surface where you are installing the stone using the flat-blade shovel. If you don't need the grass elsewhere or have no grass, simply excavate the ground on which the stone will be installed to a depth of 8 to 12 inches.
- 2). Compact the soil in the area where the stone will be installed. This will provide a solid base on which to work. A soil compactor is a large, heavy tool with a two-foot-square surface that jumps up and down to pack the soil in place.
- 3). Fill the excavation with six inches of paver base gravel, level the surface with the help of a framing level and then pack the paver base down with the soil compactor.
- 4). Fill the remainder of the excavation with the paver base sand, level the surface again with the help of a framing level, and then pack the sand with the soil compactor. This should leave just enough room to install the man-made stone at exactly the level of the surrounding ground or just above it.
- 5). Place the stone on top of the paver base sand in the predetermined pattern you have decided on. Some installations work best when working from the center, while others work best if you work from a corner in the same way in which you would install tile.
- 6). Fit the edges of the stone together. You will find that they fit together tightly in most cases, having been manufactured for the purpose of providing a natural but easy-to-attain final product. One of the benefits of man-made stone is that because of their flat bases, you don't have to set them in place when you install them, leaving you free to arrange them to the pattern you want and that fits in the area in which they are being installed.
- 7). Fill any gaps around the edges of the installation with dirt reclaimed from the excavation. When the grass grows in, this will provide a stable side for the stone walkway or patio, preventing the stone from dislodging.
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