Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Mechanical tamper vs. hand tamper

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.




View Full Version : Mechanical tamper vs. hand tamper


rmathome
06-04-09, 08:29 AM
I am laying a walkway with pavers. Is it ok to use a hand tamper as opposed to renting a mechanical one. Since my job will be spread out over a couple of days and I should tamp before and after laying the pavers, I dont want to rent the machine multiple times - or keep it and pay for multiple days.

Its only about a 25 foot walkway, 4 feet wide.

Im not opposed to using a little muscle and elbo grease, but I am concerned about the job settling and, in a couple of years, having dips and bumps.

Will a mechanical tamper make the job better - or just easier.

Also, with the final tamping (regardless of mechanical or hand tamping) will pavers settle more on the final tamping? I need to line up with a sidewalk that I want to be flush, and Im wondering if I need to compensate by laying pavers a bit higher, assuming that the final tamping will settle them down a bit.

Thanks.