How to Lay Rubber Pavers

Some manufacturers suggest using a polyurethane construction adhesive. Others recommend using landscape edging or a wood border to keep the tiles in place. Follow the instructions that came with the product you chose.

These tools will be useful for any type of rubber paver installation project.

• Tape measure
• Square
• Chalk line
• Grease pencil or crayon in contrasting color to pavers
• Utility knife with extra blades
• Jigsaw with fine-tooth blade
• Drill with 3/8 inch bit for pilot holes if inside cuts need to be made
• Rubber mallet
• Broom

Depending on your situation, these materials will be needed.

• Pavers
• Polyurethane construction adhesive, if recommended by manufacturer
• Landscape edging or wood framing
• Pins or landscape spikes for holding down edging

• The entire flooring and work area should be swept clean of any dirt or debris.
• Anything paved over will eventually show through the finished floor.
• Check for proper water drainage. Water should not be allowed to stand on or under the pavers.
• Bare soil should be compacted before paver installation.

• To determine how many pavers will be needed, measure the length and width of the area to be covered.
• Use our paver calculator to determine the number of pavers needed.
• Add 10 percent extra to the order quantity to ensure you have enough.

• Determine the area to be covered.
• Lay out edging or framing to define the area, if necessary.
• Test the layout to determine that it works before using any adhesive. Once glue has been applied, rearranging pavers will be a messy job.
• If the area being covered isn’t a multiple of the tile size, some tiles will be cut to fit.
• The easiest method is to start with full tiles on one edge and work towards the other edge. This method works unless the area oddly shaped or if lines that are supposed to be straight aren’t.
• Lay out one row of tiles across each direction to see what cutting option looks best.
• If only one edge is to be cut to fit, start the layout on the edge that will use full tiles.
• If tiles will be cut all around the edges, find the center of the area. Mark a line parallel to the main wall. Mark a line perpendicular to that one, through the center mark. This will divide the floor off into 4 quadrants.
• Start laying tiles at the center mark and work outward. When the edges are reached, cut the tiles to size and drop them in place.
• Here’s an easy way to scribe a paver to fit against a wall, border, or immovable obstacle in the floor.
• Lay all the pavers until all that is left to be done is the final row that will be made of cut tiles.
• Start at one end and lay a full paver on top of the last full paver. This is the paver that will be marked for cutting.
• Hold another full tile across the empty space, use a few scrap pieces of tile or wood to hold it up if necessary.
• Mark the line where the edge of the marking paver crosses the one to be cut with a grease pencil or felt marker.
• This process is called scribing.
• This line may not be square but it will match the wall or obstacle.
• To make complex cuts, create a template from cardboard. Trace the template onto the paver.

Rubber pavers can be cut by several methods.

• A new, sharp utility knife blade works well. A dull blade will leave a rough surface.
• Don’t try to cut all the way through in one pass. Cut multiple times.
• After the cut line is established, place the cut line over the edge of a table or board, then continue cutting. This will open the cut as you go.
• A jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade, intended for cutting metal, will work as well.
• A jigsaw is easier than the utility knife for cutting curves.
• To make an inside cut, drill a hole along the line and place the jigsaw blade through the hole.

• Once the preparation has been completed, installation is a breeze.
• Permanently install any necessary framing or edging.
• Lay out pavers, using adhesive if called for by the manufacturer.
• Enjoy your new floor.