How to Frame a Driveway with Pavers
Plain blacktop or concrete driveways are neat and tidy, but they can be boring to look at. Creating a driveway border using some of the many styles of stone and brick pavers on the market, provides a little extra style. A border made of paving stones also provides some structural benefit, like protection from plant growth and crumbling edges caused by cars and the weather. If your driveway is already in place, and you wish to improve its looks and its functionality, frame it with pavers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Tape measure
- Gravel
- Sand
- Compactor
- 2-by-4-inch stud
- 1/2-inch plywood
- Saw
- Hammer
- Nails
- Wooden stakes
- String
- Plastic paver brackets and spikes
- Marker
- Wet saw
- Rubber mallet
- 1-by-6-inch board
- Cold chisel
- Small sledge hammer
- Chalk line
Instructions
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1
Use your shovel to dig an 8-inch-deep, 12-inch-wide trench about 12 inches in width along the entire length of both sides of your driveway. Use your compactor to press the soil down and create a firm base.
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2
Lay about 4 1/2 inches of gravel into your trench and use your compactor to press it down. Lay about 1 inch of sand over the gravel in your trench. Use your compactor to press it down and create a firm foundation for your pavers.
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3
Build a screed out of your 2-by-4-inch stud and 1/2-inch plywood. Use your saw to cut the stud to a length of 24 inches. Use your saw to cut the plywood to 6 by 12 inches. Use your hammer and nails to fasten the plywood to the stud so that it covers half of the stud, and hangs over the stud edge by 2 1/2 inches. Lay the screed on the edge of your driveway so that the plywood end hangs into the trench. Slide the screed along the trench slowly so that it grades the sand. Fill any low spots and repeat the screed process. The sand should be level and should correspond to the driveway surface upon completion. Test your sand height by laying one of your pavers on top of it. The paver should be about 3/8-inch higher than the driveway surface. If there is not enough height, lay more sand, compact, screed and test again.
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4
Use your hammer to drive one wooden stake into each end of your trench. Tie a string between the two stakes. Place one test paver at each end of the string, where it connects to the two stakes. Slide the string downward until it touches the top edge of your test stones. Use this line as your height guide when laying your stones.
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5
Lay your pavers along the edge of the driveway on top of your sand. Lay your plastic paver brackets into place at the rear of your line of pavers. Plastic paver edging has pilot holes at its rear through which spikes may be inserted to keep it, and the pavers from moving out of position. Insert these spikes into the holes provided along the full length of your driveway edge.
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6
Lay pavers around any curved portions of the driveway, and use your marker to eyeball the necessary cuts to fit them. Use your wet saw to make the cuts and lay the cut pavers into position as you cut them. Cut several pavers to smaller angles rather than cutting one or two to large angles. This will hide the cuts and make the curve look uniform.
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7
Use your rubber mallet and a piece of 1-by-6-inch wooden board to level your pavers. Lay the board across your pavers and drive them downward firmly with your mallet. Fill in the seams around your pavers with dry sand. Repeat the leveling process with your wood board and mallet.
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8
Fill the space behind your pavers, and the plastic paver brackets with soil from the trench. Create a firm surface by compacting the soil, then cover the area with sod or whatever decorative element you may prefer.
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Tips & Warnings
To ensure a clean driveway edge along which your pavers will rest, use your cold chisel and small sledge hammer to break away any chunks of asphalt or concrete which may be overhanging the side of your driveway. Snap a chalk line along the edge for use as a guide, and clean away any soil revealed during the process.
Falling stones can cause serious injury, so be careful when completing every step of this project.
Make sure there are no power lines or water/sewer lines in the path of the driveway before you start digging.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
