If you’re building your own driveway, walkway, or patio, chances are that you’re working with pavers. That said, pavers aren’t always going to come in the exact sizes you need, which means that you may need to cut them.
Therefore, today, we’re going to talk about all the different ways to cut pavers. We want to take a quick look at all of the different tools that you can use to perform this task, and which ones are best suited for it.
6 Best Types of Saws for Cutting Pavers
There are six different types of power saws that you can use to cut a variety of pavers. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages, but they can all get the job done.
1. Wet Saw
One of the best saws you can use to cut pavers is a wet saw. A benchtop wet saw is a relatively large tool with a very large blade designed to cut various types of masonry. This type of saw can be used to cut all sorts of pavers.
One big advantage is that, due to the large blade, this type of saw can usually cut through relatively thick pavers in one pass.
Moreover, this saw also features a special water system that pumps water out onto the blade and the masonry being cut. This, therefore, helps to cut down on the dust that becomes airborne.
Airborne dust is of course one of the biggest issues that you are faced with when cutting pavers, as it can be very toxic to inhale. If a large benchtop wet saw is not portable enough for you, there are also handheld models. One disadvantage here, however, is that they are very expensive.
Learn more about how to cut pavers with a wet saw.
2. Miter Saw
The next option at your disposal is to use a miter saw. If you are going to use a miter saw, beware that you need to change the standard blade for a diamond masonry cutting blade.
A miter saw is a great tool to use for this task because for one, they are fairly portable. Moreover, the base and the fence of a miter saw allow you to make really precise cuts.
If you get a compound sliding miter saw, you’ll also be able to adjust both the angle and the bevel of the blade, and you’ll be able to slide the blade through relatively wide pavers.
However, a miter saw can only handle pavers up to a certain size, particularly in terms of length, and you’ll probably have to make two or three passes to make a full cut, as the blade will only go so deep.
Learn more about how to cut pavers with a miter saw.
3. Circular Saw
You can also use a regular circular saw to cut pavers. Just like with a miter saw, you will have to exchange the standard blade for a special diamond-coated masonry cutting blade.
That said, with a circular saw, you’re better off cutting brick and stone pavers than concrete pavers, although it will still work either way.
However, concrete pavers will probably wear the blade down pretty quickly. The benefit of a circular saw is that it is very portable, so you can take it with you nearly anywhere.
Moreover, because there is no base, there is really no limit to the length or width of paver that can be cut. There is no base, however, so you will need a table or workbench to support the pavers as you cut them.
Learn more about how to cut pavers with a circular saw.
4. Concrete Saw
If you are going to be cutting any kind of brick, stone, or concrete pavers, a great option is a concrete saw. Concrete saws are also known as demolition saws, and as you can probably tell, they’re designed to cut concrete and other very hard materials.
They feature a very large and special type of blade designed for this purpose. Concrete or demolition saws also come with water systems to spray water onto the blade and the material being cut, therefore cutting down on the amount of dust that is produced.
Moreover, because they have no base, you can make cuts of unlimited length and width. That said, this lack of base means you need to support the paver on something from below. On that note, concrete saws are also extremely large and heavy, and expensive too.
5. Tile Saw
A title saw is fairly similar to a wet saw. It’s kind of like a combination of a table saw and a miter saw that is specially designed to cut tile. You will need to take off the regular tile cutting blade and affix a masonry cutting blade, but it should work just fine. It’s not the number one power saw for this job due to size constraints, but it does work well for small pavers.
6. Masonry Saw
Another good option to consider is a regular masonry saw. This is like a combination of a miter saw and a circular saw in the sense that it features the circular saw up top, with a base and a fence below.
These saws tend to be dry saws, which means that they don’t have water systems, but they do usually have vacuums to suck in dust that is produced while cutting. These can be used to cut all sorts of masonry, although they don’t do that well with concrete.
4 Best Ways to Cut Pavers Without a Saw
There are also four good ways to cut pavers without a saw. This includes both power tools and handheld tools.
1. Paving Stone Splitter
One of the best manual tools you may use to cut pavers is a paving stone splitter. This is a relatively large and cumbersome tool that features a large handle that you press down on, which then pushes a very special blade down onto the paver.
This method is extremely accurate and precise, although a bit slow. If you need precision cuts, this is a great way to go, especially if you don’t want to use any sort of power tool. That said, these devices tend to be fairly heavy, and it’s really something that you would use for a fairly large job.
2. Hammer and Chisel
If you only have a few stone or brick pavers that you need to cut, then using a chisel and hammer will work just fine. It’s relatively slow, but it works well if you just have a few cuts you need to make. This is very easy to do, and moreover, you don’t require any type of power or electricity.
All you need is a relatively large and heavy hammer combined with a special paving stone splitting chisel. Although it might sound difficult, due to the special chisel, the pavers will split very easily. Do, however, keep in mind that the cut is not always going to be extremely precise.
Learn more about how to cut pavers with a chisel.
3. Angle Grinder
Although it’s going to be slow and will produce a lot of dust, you can technically use a special masonry cutting blade with an angle grinder to cut pavers. It works fine for very small jobs, although it’s not ideal for jobs that require a lot of cutting.
Learn more about how to cut pavers with an angle grinder.
4. Rotary Tool
Just like with an angle grinder, you can also use a masonry cutting blade on a rotary tool to cut pavers. It’s also ideal for small jobs, and you can definitely be precise, but it’s still not ideal for large jobs.
What Is the Best Way to Cut Concrete Pavers?
Surprisingly enough, one of the best ways to cut relatively soft pavers, such as concrete pavers, is by using a hammer and chisel. However, if this is just too slow and cumbersome for you, then using either a concrete saw or a wet saw is recommended.
What Is the Best Way to Cut Brick Pavers?
Honestly, there is really no number one best way to cut brick pavers, which we could technically say for cutting concrete pavers too. It really depends on the specifics of the job and what tools you have at your disposal.
Most people would say that either a miter saw or a circular saw fitted with a masonry cutting blade is best. However, a wet saw, concrete saw, or masonry saw will all work just fine too. As long as the saw in question is quite powerful and has a blade designed for cutting masonry, it will work just fine.
How to Cut Pavers: Mistakes to Avoid, Tips and Tricks
Lastly, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Always wear eye protection when cutting pavers, as chunks can fly up into your eyes and cause damage.
- If you are using a power saw to cut pavers, always wear breathing protection, as you don’t want to inhale that dust.
- If using any kind of power saw, always make sure that it is a blade specially designed for masonry. For instance, a blade designed for wood is not going to work. A wood-cutting blade will likely shatter into pieces.
- Always make sure that your saw blade is in prime condition. Even a masonry cutting blade needs to be in perfect condition in order to function properly and be safe. That’s especially the case if you are cutting pavers for curves.
Summary
There you have it, all of the information you need on cutting pavers using a wide variety of tools.