The edges on both sides are cut in place and we are ready to add sand for the “grouting” purposes, then compacting, yet again. This last compaction is less for structural purposes than for aesthetic ones.  Pavers can have small imperfections in depth and whatnot, plus there may have been one or two areas where our screeding was not exact. By compacting, we not only shake the sand into locking position, holding further the pavers in place, but we also address any imperfections in grade.