Authors: Glenda Taylor and Bob Vera | Updated 7:03 PM, September 20, 2020

Pavers—whether bricks, stones, or concrete—are pleasant alternatives to large areas of ordinary concrete, adding visual texture to terraces, sidewalks, and even driveways. Although the paver is quite suitable for doing it yourself, you may need to cut some to fit your layout. If you only need to cut some, you can use a hammer and chisel, but if you want to cut a lot of pavers, it is recommended to use an electric saw, such as an angle grinder or a circular saw, to speed up the process. Here you will find two methods on how to cut the paver and a guide to help you choose the best method for your project.

Hammers and chisels are suitable for relatively soft pavers, such as bricks or concrete. This is an old-fashioned technique, but it has been proven in practice. Even professional masons use this method to cut the paver at a critical juncture. If you can't get electricity on the project site, this is your only choice.

Materials and tools can be purchased on Amazon – work gloves – protective glasses – tape measure – carpenter’s pencil – cold chisel – brick chisel – hammer

Wear protective glasses to protect your eyes from the small fragments that are inevitable when cutting the paver. Wearing gloves when handling the paver is also a good idea, as they will quickly abrade the skin on your fingertips.

Measure the space in the sidewalk or terrace layout where you need to install the smaller paver, then transfer that measurement to the paver itself, and clearly mark the cut line with a pencil. Mark the front, back and sides of the paver-the cutting line must extend all the way because you need to score all four sides.

Place the paver on a flat surface, such as the ground or a piece of plywood on several sawhorses. Place the sharp edge of a cold chisel (a small hardened steel chisel with a sharp blade) on the pencil line and tap the other end lightly with a hammer. When you tap, the chisel will carve a groove in the paver. Move the chisel along the mark, tapping gently until a groove about 1/16 inch deep is formed on the sides and the entire line. Depending on the hardness of the paver, this scoring process may take two to three times to complete. Be patient and avoid hitting the chisel hard, as this may cut off some pavers.

After finishing the line, place the paver flat on the ground, and then place a brick chisel vertically in the center of the groove. The blade of the brick chisel is wider, and the end of the chisel has a larger hammer area for striking. Hit the end of the chisel with a hammer and the paver should be divided into two separate parts. If not, use the cold chisel again to score around the cutting line.

If necessary, remove any uneven or protruding drill bits from the center of the damaged paver using a brick set and a hammer. Your cutting paver is now ready to be positioned in your layout.

As long as you use the correct blade, you can use an electric saw to cut almost any type of paver. These saws are particularly convenient on stone pavers. Manual cutting with a hammer and chisel is time-consuming and tedious, but if you have a lot to cut, they are also a good choice for softer pavers.

Materials and tools are available on Amazon-gloves-protective glasses-dust mask-ear protection-tape measure-pencil-electric saw (angle grinder or circular saw)-diamond block blade-hammer or mallet

When using an electric saw to cut the paver, in addition to goggles and gloves, you must also wear a good dust mask. Wearing ear protectors is also a good idea, because the cutting process is very loud.

Measure the space required to fill the layout and transfer the measured value to the paver. Make a pencil mark on the front and back of the paver. There is no need to mark on the side.

Install diamond masonry blades for your chainsaw to cut the paver you are installing. If your paver is stone, be sure to choose a blade marked for cutting stone, not just brick or concrete, because natural stone is much harder than brick or concrete. If the blade is not labeled with a stone, it will not pass through the paver.

Set the saw blade to cut ½ inch deep, then place the paver on a flat surface, such as the ground or a sturdy board placed on top of several sawhorses. Saw along the marking lines on the front and back of the paver. This will give you a deep scoring line on the front and back of the paver. There is no need to trim the edges. Follow all safety instructions that came with the saw. The electric saw should always be operated carefully to avoid injury.

Place the paver on top of a step or other paver, scribing and overhanging the ends of the bricks. Fix the paver in place with one hand, and use a hammer or mallet to hit the overhanging end firmly. The paver should be clean and ready to fit into your layout.

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