I am installing a paver patio, with pavers and sand in between. My pavers are very clay-ey, and a little irregular. (I have some retaining wall bricks, which have a much higher "stone" content than my pavers.) Also, my pavers are not a solid color throughout, a thin top layer has the desired color.

My question is: should I use a Vibrating Plate Compactor on these, or will it break all my bricks? I know I need to put a lot of sand on top first, and the guy at the tool rental place said I should also put cardboard on top of the bricks, then run the VPC. But will it still break my bricks, or will I be okay?