Alliance Gator Base Interlocking Paver Base Panels for Concrete Pavers Porcelain Tile and Natural Stone

Why Contractors Ask for Gator Base by Name

The base is most of the labor on a patio and almost all of the trucking. Gator Base takes 6 in of stone and 6 in of excavation out of the job, which is why a two-person crew can do in a day what used to take three.

• Replaces 6 in of compacted crushed stone and 6 in of extra excavation. One panel equals 288 lb (130 kg) of compacted aggregate.
• 1.32 lb per panel. Five panels cover about 29 sq ft and weigh 6.6 lb, against 12 wheelbarrows and 1,440 lb of stone.
• R-3.6 per inch thermal resistance. Alliance rates one panel as insulating like 15.7 in of dry compacted stone, roughly three times more effective.
• LOCK-N-GO tongue and groove. Panels lock together and trim with a utility knife.
• Drains properly. Water evacuation channels on a 1 degree slope and five drainage holes per 16 sq in.
• Cuts costs across the board. Alliance claims 50 percent savings on excavation, minimum 20 percent on labor, plus truck, dumping and machinery wear.
• 100 percent recyclable and does not degrade in soil.

Gator Base Specifications

Each panel covers 6.1 sq ft total, 5.79 sq ft usable once the overlap is accounted for. Divide your patio area by 5.79 and add for cuts — or call or text (856) 418-4895 and we will do it with you.

Where Gator Base Works

Alliance rates Gator Base for pedestrian applications:

• Paver patios, sidewalks, walkways and paths
• Pool surrounds and pool decks
• Seating walls up to 18 in high and 12 in deep
• Fire pits, with a thermal barrier between the heat source and the panel
• Heated paving systems up to 122 F
• Concrete pavers, natural stone, wet cast and porcelain via the Gator Tile system

How to Install Gator Base Panels

The full step by step guide is in the official documentation below. Here is the shape of the job:

1. Excavate to fabric plus 3/4 in of sand or ASTM No. 9 stone, plus the 19 mm panel, plus your paver thickness. Go 6 in wider than the paved area, 12 in for a seating wall or fire pit. Call utilities first.
2. Level and compact the soil to a 2 percent slope away from structures, with no protrusion or hollow over 3/8 in.
3. Lay Gator Fabric GF4.4 over the area and up the sides, then screed 3/4 in of sand, moisten and compact to 1/2 in. ASTM No. 9 stone needs no compaction.
4. Install the panels staggered, locking the tongue and groove, trimming with a utility knife and keeping a 6 in overlap for the edging.
5. Set the pavers directly on the panels, then install Gator Edge firmly against them with a Gator Base Screw at every second hole.
6. Sand the joints with Gator Maxx G2, compacting with a rubber-padded plate to 1/8 in below the chamfer, then activate with water.

What Gator Base Actually Saves You

The panel costs more than the stone it replaces. The saving is everywhere else on the job.

• Excavation — 6 in less depth across the whole area, and Alliance claims about 50 percent off excavation cost.
• Trucking — no aggregate delivery, no dump fees on the spoil you did not dig.
• Labor — a minimum 20 percent reduction per Alliance, and far less wheelbarrow work.
• Access — the real win on back gardens where a machine cannot reach and every barrow goes through the house side gate.
• Insulation — R-3.6 per inch, which matters on a heated patio or in a hard freeze-thaw climate.

Quick Answers

Can I use Gator Base on a driveway?
No. Alliance rates it for pedestrian use only. Anything taking vehicles needs a conventional compacted aggregate base.

How much crushed stone does one panel replace?
288 lb of compacted aggregate, equivalent to 6 in of stone across the panel area.

How many panels do I need?
Divide your area by 5.79 sq ft of usable coverage per panel, then add for cuts and the 6 in perimeter overlap.

What goes under the panels?
Gator Fabric GF4.4, then 3/4 in of compacted sand or ASTM No. 9 stone, on soil compacted to a 2 percent slope.

Can I build a seating wall on it?
Yes, up to 18 in high and 12 in deep. Fire pits are also allowed with a thermal barrier.

Does it work with heated paving?
Yes, up to 122 F, and the R-3.6 insulation makes the heating considerably more efficient.

What polymeric sand should I use with it?
Alliance specifies Gator Maxx G2 and warranties that combination.

Official Alliance Gator Documentation

Documents are published by Alliance Gator. For the most current versions, visit alliancegator.com.

Pairs Well With

• Gator Maxx G2 — the polymeric sand Alliance specifies with Gator Base.
• Gator Base Screws — required to fasten Gator Edge through the panel.
• Gator Aqua Rock — the ASTM No. 9 bedding option that needs no compaction.

Questions about your project? Call or text (856) 418-4895 and you will get a real person who works with paver base products every day.