Driveway

Step 1 - Prepare the plot

Mark out the area of the driveway and dig to roughly 200mm deep, enough to accommodate a paving block’s height, sub-base and sand bedding.

Digging patio foundations spade
Machinery compactor petrol sub-base compactor plate
Step 2 - Sub-base layer

Remove any weeds and fill with 100mm compacted sub-base. If the ground underneath is clay it may require a geo-textile membrane first to stop the sub-base from sinking. Make sure you slope the compacted sub-base at a 1:80 fall away from the house.

Step 3 - Edging

Kerbs or the edge course must be fixed in placed with concrete. Lay concrete 100mm deep and set the blocks into place, leaving at least the width of the kerb in concrete on the outside edge. Check kerbs are level in all directions and adjust as needed.

Mortar sand mix
Wet patio slabs
Step 4 - Bedding layer

Next create the bedding layer which blocks will be laid into. Spread out sharp sand over the whole plot, compact down with a vibrating plate and then screed flat to roughly 40mm, trying to keep an even depth.

Step 5 - Mix pavers

Before laying pavers make sure to mix packs together to avoid bands of colour. A herringbone laying pattern is recommended for driveways as the interlocking design gives strength to the whole driveway.

grout and jointing patio slabs tiles
Wet patio slabs
Step 6 - Laying pavers

When laying blocks make sure they are held tight against adjacent blocks before being placed into the bedding layer. Never place a block down and then move into place or it will disturb the level bedding layer.

Step 7 - Compact into place

Check the paving is level and that no blocks are broken. These should be removed and either reseated or replaced. Compact down the blocks with at least two passes of a vibrating compactor plate.

grout and jointing patio slabs tiles
Wet patio slabs
Step 8 - Fill the gaps

Sweep jointing sand between all of the blocks. Sweep the excess sand from the driveway before a final pass with the vibrating compactor plate. Any joints which aren’t full after compacting can be topped up with more jointing sand.