Circular paver driveway

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I'm thinking that you were waiting for Ron to come down and help.:laughing:

The 2 of you could knock it out in a few days.

Don, when I see them lay those on TV, they usually lay them edge to edge (with no gap) unless in a small circle where they don't mate up exactly. Then they put the sand down and use the vibrator to get the sand to fill in the small cracks.

 

[ultrarunner]

Always like the old world look of pavers...

I know it will be superb!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Since the drive-way pavers require a 1/4 inch space in-between each paver ...

I've never heard this before. Does Acme say this on their instructions?

My understanding is that for the pavers to have strength, they have to touch. There is a small ridge on the sides to give you the perfect gap, but moe would mean that they can move around once the sand washes out.

Eddie

 

[txdon]

I'm thinking that you were waiting for Ron to come down and help.:laughing:

The 2 of you could knock it out in a few days.

Don, when I see them lay those on TV, they usually lay them edge to edge (with no gap) unless in a small circle where they don't mate up exactly. Then they put the sand down and use the vibrator to get the sand to fill in the small cracks.

Ron's skipping past Lee County till I'm done.

These are not the kind to lay edge to edge. (no ridges Eddie) They are not tapered on top, have flat sides and are cut so a perfect square requires 1/4" spacing. It is a pain in getting the spacing equal, I have cut about 100 1/4 inch spacers to help. The variance can be up to 1/2" but then I start to use a lot of polymer sand. These are the more difficult ones to lay. I do need a slight variance between each paver around the curve and I can add it easily with the required spacing. hopefully it will eliminate cutting a lot of them. If I measured the distance between the curbs right I'll only have to cut the pavers on the cross curbs and an occasional one on the curve to get the stagger right. That's plan one anyway.

 

[beppington]

I also haven't heard of needing to leave a space in pavers. Just jam them tight together & then keep sweeping sand across the pavers until all the cracks are filled. I still don't understand how yours would be different than that.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks Don. It's always fun to learn about something new. I've done some work with pavers, but not a lot.

Are you going to go all the way to the gate?

Eddie

 

[ronjhall]

Ron's skipping past Lee County till I'm done.

Don and I had a great phone conversation the other day. I offered to bring my motorhome up to his place and try out the new drive in April. He thought it would be a good idea until I told him what happened to my pavers where I park the motorhome at my place. After 5 years the rear dual axle has dropped the pavers down about 2 to 3 inches. I have been banned from bring the motorhome to his circular drive. :confused2:

 

[txdon]

Are you going to go all the way to the gate?

Eddie

No just a little circle. To the front gate would be 4.5 pavers (per square foot)x10 feet wide =45 pavers per foot X 2,500 feet = 112,500 pavers + 4,000 bags of cement for curbing and 15,000 feet of rebar, and another 20 years at the pace I work.

Beepington, put together thees pavers are so tight there would be no space for sand and the top edges would chip, there is no bevel. I'll get a picture later of the difference. When I bought them I did not realize they were the spaced pavers but my house builder and the rock layer confirmed this.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Don, I'm sure it will look awesome when you are done. Is Whipper keeping a close eye on quality control whilst pulling snake lookout duty? I'm betting that your lower back and knees aren't seeing things as humorous as this thread.

The secret to these types of jobs, is to have a "stand up" helper. While you are on your knees, they hand you your next paver or go make the cuts needed thus, you don't have to get up and down so much. Also, a good pair of gloves to keep your fingertips where they belong.

 

[EddieWalker]

+ 4,000 bags of cement for curbing ...

I was joking about the driveway, but you surprised me by saying you used bags of cement for your curbing. Did you really buy it by the bag, mix it and pour it this way?

How many bags did you buy? Was it the premium stuff? Any idea of how many yards it was?

Eddie

 

[txdon]

Eddie, the bendable metal frame for the curbing was 40'X6" ( and 8-16" wide). It took a pallet (42 bags) for each section. I used many pallets, I lost count, the curbing took 1 bag per foot. I mixed two bags at a time in my mixer and the 40 foot pour takes 2 hours. The set up, measuring/framing/leveling, took several days for each 40'.

Kyle, The dog did not behave. I had to put up a temporary fence after each pour. On the last pour she jumped the fence, after I had gone in for the night, and it has about 20 permanent dog paws indentions.

 

[Western]

Don, did mixing it that way make it cheaper? I can sure see how it could be considered a "cardio" workout though:thumbsup:

I admire your tenacity, (the Porch area looks great too!)

 

[crbr]

Looks better and better

 

[txdon]

Don, did mixing it that way make it cheaper? I can sure see how it could be considered a "cardio" workout though:thumbsup:

Western, I didn't compare prices. I had only 40' of metal framing and that is all I could pour at one time and that would not be enough for a truck.

Here are some pics that show the difference between my drive way pavers (thicker) that require 1/4" spacing and Lowe's sidewalk pavers (thinner) that have side protrusions and the a beveled top that require no spacing.

The last picture is the front porch with the 1/4" spacing driveway pavers filled with polymer sand that has solidified.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Kyle, The dog did not behave. I had to put up a temporary fence after each pour. On the last pour she jumped the fence, after I had gone in for the night, and it has about 20 permanent dog paws indentions.

She just wanted to leave her mark "In Stone" for all that snake protecting she's been doing.:laughing:

 

[beppington]

I see the paver difference now, Don. Still not quite sure why the ones you're using couldn't be jammed tight against each - Would the corners break? Sand wouldn't fill in between them?

Anyway, we also did a big concrete job with bags: 11 pallets worth! (from Home Depot)

My dad wanted to pour a driveway extension, & there was no way for a concrete truck to access it without driving on & probably breaking the existing concrete drive ... & he didn't want to hire a concrete pumper, I guess since we're DIY kinda guys ... so we used my electric mixer. We strapped the mixer to my dad's FEL. Mix 3 bags at a time, then drive the tractor to the dump spot & un-curl the loader to dump it. Took many, many trips of that, but worked fine.

 

[GT2]

Here are some pics that show the difference between my drive way pavers (thicker) that require 1/4" spacing and Lowe's sidewalk pavers (thinner) that have side protrusions and the a beveled top that require no spacing.
.

Uneducated comment, It appears that one is cement and one is clay?

 

[Renze]

I will try to lay 1000 pavers a week and hopefully be done in 10 weeks. This makes my wife laugh considering I'm already 18 months into this project.

pavers are much more common here in Holland, we tend to lay 100m2 of pavers per man, per day. Just farmers doing their own pavement...
In your circular driveway, i would just begin on the outside radius and lay on the inside of each previous pass, putting in halves or 3/4 where necessary to remain the overlap between the rows. When laying circular as well, laying 15.000 pavers of guess 10x20cm (4x8") is no more than 30 man-days.... so with 2 people laying and 3 on the wheelbarrow to tip them as closely to the worksite as possible (so the men laying never have to get off their hands and feet unless for coffee break) we'd do it with family and friends (which have to milk cows or feed cattle in the morning and evening, so short days) in 6 workdays.

You do get sore, but rather being sore and getting things done with a bunch of friends and family whilst having a beer at the end of each workday, than spending 10 weeks on the same boring job, alone...

 

[txdon]

In your circular driveway, i would just begin on the outside radius and lay on the inside of each previous pass, putting in halves or 3/4 where necessary to remain the overlap between the rows.

Renze, I was just thinking trying to think of the best place to start and will be using your method.

GT2, I believe that is a correct observation! The Driveway (Acme) pavers are clay based.

Beepington - That is exactly right, the edges would break, or cause a tripping hazard if not perfectly aligned and there would be no space for sand when they fit that tight. The 1/4" sand space becomes the bevel.

Kyle, you got that right! She hates snakes, just like Eddie.

 

[pacerron]

Don, I see you have rebar in your curb. Do you have some verticals in the pour every once in a while that go down into your sandy ground or are you
depending on the weight of the concrete to control lateral shifting and or frost heave?
A vehicle's weight operating in that tight curve will create a lot of force toward the outside. Your doing a great job and the design goes very well with your house.
Ron