The hardscaping industry relies entirely on the forward vibratory plate compactor to ensure that intricate interlocking stone driveways and patios do not sink or shift. However, a steel plate is fundamentally destructive to expensive, manufactured concrete pavers. If you run raw iron over decorative stones, you will instantly scratch the colored surface, crack the corners, and destroy the aesthetic finish of a $20,000 [approx. £15,800] patio.
To bridge the gap between necessary compaction and surface protection, we utilize a specialized urethane or heavy rubber paving pad. This mat bolts directly to the bottom of the steel base plate. The process of locking in a paver patio happens at the very end of the job. We sweep specialized polymeric jointing sand over the surface of the stones, filling the cracks. Then, I run the padded plate compactor over the entire surface.
The urethane pad acts as a mechanical dampener. It slightly reduces the raw impact force of the plate, but allows the high-frequency vibration to pass through. This vibration causes the interlocking pavers to settle firmly into their 25 mm [approx. 1 inch] sand bedding layer. Simultaneously, it vibrates the polymeric sand deep down into the joints, completely locking the stones together through lateral friction. You have to ensure the pad is securely bolted and entirely free of trapped gravel; a single piece of crushed stone trapped between the pad and the base plate will act like a diamond scribe, ruining every paver it touches.
