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.