Driveway Pavers

[HillStreet]

Hi Everyone,

Just about finished the house, one more week or so and we will move in.

I am pretty much still in construction mode, and thinking about the driveway this summer. It is 250 feet by 12 feet with a turnaround. I am thinking about using pavers ---probably the grey concrete color but who knows. I know that I can do this D-I-Y but nonetheless have a guy coming over to quote.

I have done patios and walks with great results, may just need to bone up on driveways. Anyway, please share what you know about this kind of work. Driveway slopes down toward the road, a good consistent grade. Gravel is good base for this new driveway, and it held up good over the winter. Thanks.

 

[jenkinsph]

I do quite a lot of paver work and would recommend small paver brick for a driveway. Not nearly as likely to break as compared to the larger 12x12 and up sizes. Very important to grade and compact the surface properly before laying the pavers. I use an engineered fill that compacts very tight yet has a smooth surface. I use a sand over the pavers then sweep it into th cracks until all the voids are completely filled, No problem for medium duty trucks or heavy tractors driving over them.

 

[Ed of all trades]

What does a snow plow/blower do to pavers? Do they hold up well or will they scratch badly? Ed

 

[TractorGuy]

I do quite a lot of paver work and would recommend small paver brick for a driveway. Not nearly as likely to break as compared to the larger 12x12 and up sizes. Very important to grade and compact the surface properly before laying the pavers. I use an engineered fill that compacts very tight yet has a smooth surface. I use a sand over the pavers then sweep it into th cracks until all the voids are completely filled, No problem for medium duty trucks or heavy tractors driving over them.

They did this where I work. Every now and then a spot sinks or students steal some bricks but it seems pretty easy to do spot repairs and most of it stays put. I think the beauty of this system is you can add sand to re-level and fix small areas so it is unnoticeable.

 

[Fossil Farm]

What does a snow plow/blower do to pavers? Do they hold up well or will they scratch badly? Ed

We have had pavers in the parking area for over 20 years. A couple have a small crack and a few are scratched from plowing and chunking ice off them. Nothing major. I usually use the back of the blade to plow, so it does not dig in, just glides across the top. Pavers are about 8 inch by 4 inch and I believe about 2 1/2 inches thick. Charcoal colored so they absorb the heat in the winter.

It's funny, some people seem afraid to drive on them, even though that is how we get our vehicles into the garage.

 

[EddieWalker]

Why 12 feet wide? Ten would be my maximum width. Have you measured how far apart your tires are?

The most important thing is going to be the base. I do not believe it's possible to compact the rock you will use for our base with a plate compactor. You will need one that is driven. Even then, getting it right takes the proper amount of water and time going over it again and again. When I did this back in the 80's for subdivisions and parking lots, we failed the inspection about a quarter of the time. It's not easy getting it right, even with big construction equipment.

If it's not compacted, it will settle over time.

If it was me, I would lay the rock base, compact it, and then just live with it for a year or two before going to pavers.

 

[Northcountryboy]

Very good advice Eddy. Time is the key.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Thanks for the thread, I just made an offer on a place that needs a turn around spot beside the drive way. This might be the best way to do it. A paving company would have to charge a lot per sq ft to do a place that is about 20 ft x 20 ft. and I could do the pavers. Ed

 

[jenkinsph]

What does a snow plow/blower do to pavers? Do they hold up well or will they scratch badly? Ed

Most pavers are concrete today, so should not be a problem. Like any driveway material you need to allow a little clearance from the surface. I use a light weight Countyline rear blade to clean asphalt driveways without scratching the surface. Pavers are much tougher than asphalt coatings, but you need to have them smooth enough to not catch the blades on what ever snow removal equipment you use.

I can't seem to upload pictures right now but do have a couple of pics in my TBN folder. Pics of the 4x8 inch pavers from a patio install a few years ago.

 

[HillStreet]

Why 12 feet wide? Ten would be my maximum width. Have you measured how far apart your tires are?

The most important thing is going to be the base. I do not believe it's possible to compact the rock you will use for our base with a plate compactor. You will need one that is driven. Even then, getting it right takes the proper amount of water and time going over it again and again. When I did this back in the 80's for subdivisions and parking lots, we failed the inspection about a quarter of the time. It's not easy getting it right, even with big construction equipment.

If it's not compacted, it will settle over time.

If it was me, I would lay the rock base, compact it, and then just live with it for a year or two before going to pavers.

HI Eddie,

I chose 12 feet because that is the current width of gravel. I drive a Tacoma, and a propane truck will visit a couple times a year so no big issues there. Current driveway was laid new in early November when the build started. Excavation, 6 inches of 6 inch gravel, followed by at least 4 inches of processed gravel. All compacted over the winter, it held up good. Because the winter was generally mild this year, and the orchard has at least 12 inches of topsoil, the mud was terrible. Driveway was good though. I know the importance of good soil compaction and leveling and getting pitch right.

Also, once placed correctly, I am sure the service life will be just fine. I don't really care about the occasional scratch or broken paver---not a problem.

 

[2ndhalf]

Most pavers are concrete today, so should not be a problem. Like any driveway material you need to allow a little clearance from the surface. I use a light weight Countyline rear blade to clean asphalt driveways without scratching the surface. Pavers are much tougher than asphalt coatings, but you need to have them smooth enough to not catch the blades on what ever snow removal equipment you use.

I can't seem to upload pictures right now but do have a couple of pics in my TBN folder. Pics of the 4x8 inch pavers from a patio install a few years ago.

That looks great!

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks 2ndhalf

 

[tractchores]

Be aware that salt and most pavers don't mix. There are a couple that will warranty with salt. I used techo bloc pavers for some walks and pillars. They are guaranteed even with salt and colored all the way through so breaks or scratches don't show. Pretty easy to work with, drill, cut etc too. The base is the most important part followed by something to stop them from spreading out (edging, cobbles set in concrete etc). I'd use a polymeric sand as well so you minimize ants or insects getting into the joints. Should look great!

 

[jenkinsph]

High end pavers and polymeric sand are good for small projects. For most of us operating on a budget cheap pavers, cheap retaining wall block and engineered fill works extremely well. I bought the retaining wall block for this job for $3.50 each delivered up near the top of a mountain. These are concrete with the color all the way through and 62 lbs. each 16x12x6 lwh. Engineered fill is $20/ton delivered. I ordered 2200 block and `12 tons of fill to start. If I had chosen a block that was expensive and used polymeric sand the customer would not have signed up.

The railroad ties along the 180 feet of driveway have been removed and are being replaced with the retaining wall block. Should be finishing this job in the next week or so.

If any one wants to learn how to do this I will teach you for only $25 per day. Just meet me next week and bring gloves.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Are pavers better than died, stamped concrete for a driveway? If so please explain, not trying to hijack, just wanting to lean. Ed

 

[czechsonofagun]

Is it just me who likes the look of the railroad ties better?

 

[jenkinsph]

Are pavers better than died, stamped concrete for a driveway? Ed

Both dyed and stamped concrete if properly executed and pavers have their own appeal . Pick the one you like the looks of the best.

 

[jenkinsph]

Is it just me who likes the look of the railroad ties better?

Lots of people in both camps. The railroad ties in this case were leaning against the bank. Rain had caused enough erosion that the problem needed fixing.

 

[EddieWalker]

Are pavers better than died, stamped concrete for a driveway? If so please explain, not trying to hijack, just wanting to lean. Ed

Pavers are something that with time, anybody can do on their own. Died and stamped concrete will take a crew to get done. Concrete by itself is going to be stronger then pavers, last longer and have fewer problems. If you where to hire a crew to install pavers, then stamped concrete would be the easy choice over pavers because of how time consuming it is to install the pavers.

What it looks like when its done is also going to be different. What look do you like better?

 

[Cord]

Hi Everyone,

Just about finished the house, one more week or so and we will move in.

I am pretty much still in construction mode, and thinking about the driveway this summer. It is 250 feet by 12 feet with a turnaround. I am thinking about using pavers ---probably the grey concrete color but who knows. I know that I can do this D-I-Y but nonetheless have a guy coming over to quote.

I have done patios and walks with great results, may just need to bone up on driveways. Anyway, please share what you know about this kind of work. Driveway slopes down toward the road, a good consistent grade. Gravel is good base for this new driveway, and it held up good over the winter. Thanks.

Base is critical for pavers. I put down gravel several years ago for a driveway and it was compacted only by the machine and dump trucks. I can still tell that it's settling because there are some dips that I know were not there when the drive was put in. They're not much and certainly don't affect the use of the driveway, but they would be bad new for pavers. Unless the drive had a drum roller compacting it, I'd suggest waiting several years before starting your paver project. Even then, you'll need to take a couple inches of gravel off so you can set the sand bed.