A paver patio looks like a modest afternoon of work. Pull them up, stack them, load them, done. The stack is where the trouble starts, because a single pallet's worth of concrete pavers weighs more than most people expect, and a patio is several pallets.
How heavy pavers actually are
Standard concrete pavers are dense. A patio of a few hundred square feet, at typical paver thickness, adds up to a load that reaches the included ton quickly and keeps going. That is why rock, dirt, concrete and other heavy material is limited to 5 yards per load in our trailer: a 10-yard trailer full of pavers would be far too heavy to tow legally.
Then there's what's underneath. Bedding sand and the compacted base — often several inches of crushed rock — is heavier per yard than the pavers, and it has to come out too if you're changing the grade or putting down something new.
Sell or give them away first
Planning the loads
- 1Measure the area and note the paver thickness. Tell us both when you book and we'll say honestly how many loads it is.
- 2Pull pavers first and stack them on the driveway, sorted into reusable and broken.
- 3Load broken pavers low and spread evenly across the trailer floor, to a maximum of 5 yards.
- 4Scrape the bedding sand and base into a separate pile. It's a second heavy load in its own right for a large patio.
- 5Keep edge restraints, plastic and any geotextile fabric separate — they go in as light general debris on top.
Walkways, pool decks and driveways
A short paver walkway is usually a single partial load. A pool deck is a full heavy load or more, and a paver driveway is a multi-load project that should be planned with us in advance. Pool decks also frequently sit on a concrete slab, which is a separate demolition and a separate weight conversation.
What loads with it
- Broken pavers and concrete edging — heavy, on the floor
- Base rock and bedding sand — heavy, counted in the 5 yards
- Polymeric sand sweepings — light, bagged
- Landscape fabric, plastic edging, old lighting — light, on top
Tools and the order of the day
You do not need heavy equipment for a residential patio. You need a flat pry bar, a flat shovel, a stiff broom, a wheelbarrow, a couple of pallets, and a plan for the heat.
- 1Start at an edge. Pull the edge restraint, then lever the first row of pavers up with the pry bar. After the first row the rest lift by hand.
- 2Work in strips across the patio and sort as you lift: whole pavers onto a pallet, broken ones into the wheelbarrow.
- 3Wheel the broken pavers straight to the trailer and lay them flat on the floor, spreading each barrow across the full width. Do not build a heap at the tailgate.
- 4Scrape the bedding sand into a pile with the flat shovel, then dig the base rock. Keep both separate from the pavers.
- 5Stop loading heavy material at 5 yards, whatever the trailer looks like. A second load is a second rental with its own included ton and free delivery.
Do the heavy loading in the morning. A wheelbarrow of concrete across a Florida driveway at two in the afternoon is where people get hurt, and the trailer is there all week.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fill the trailer to the top with pavers?
No. Heavy material is limited to 5 yards per load. Above that the trailer is too heavy to move safely.
How is the extra weight billed?
One ton is included. Additional weight is $59 per ton, and we hand you the PCSW scale receipt from the facility.
Should I break the pavers up?
Only the ones already broken. Whole pavers stack flat and dense, which is the best way to load heavy material. Breaking them adds work and no benefit.
Book a 10-yard dump trailer
Free local delivery, free pickup, and a family-owned crew that shows up when we say we will. Serving Clearwater, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco.
