How to Make a Concrete Paver Driveway
Fresh landscaping can add beauty to the exterior of a home. Updating your driveway with pavers can seem overwhelming at first, but once complete, you will be proud of the fresh new look that will greet you each time you come home. There are many colors and sizes of pavers to pick from to blend or contrast your current color scheme. Knowing how to make a concrete paver driveway and creating your own design and scheme will give you great satisfaction for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 1x2 10-inch posts
- String
- Level
- Measuring tape
- Shovel
- Hammer
- Broom
- 2x4 board
- Hose
- Plate compactor (can rent one)
- Hand tamper
- Contractor's paint
- 1/4-inch crushed bedding gravel (amount depends of project size)
- Masonry sand
- Bedding sand
- Precast concrete curb restraints
Instructions
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1
Mark the area for the driveway using the contractor's paint. Allow for 6 to 12 inches of additional space.
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2
Remove the ground for the driveway. Use a shovel to dig about 6-8 inches deep below the desired height of the driveway. Level the ground.
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3
Measure and lay out the final shape and edges of the driveway using the posts and string as a pattern to follow. Be sure to slope the driveway and string away from the house for proper water drainage. Slope should be roughly 1/8 inch for every foot.
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4
Apply about 3 inches of crushed bedding gravel. Use the plate compactor to help settle and compact the gravel as the base. Make several passes to firmly compact the gravel. Use the hand tamper in smaller, tighter areas. When you are able to walk on the gravel without leaving any indentations it is ready for the next layer.
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5
Apply the final 3 inches of crushed bedding gravel, repeating the above process until again you are able to freely walk on the compacted gravel leaving no indentations.
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6
Install the precast concrete paver edges following the string outline to form the edges of the driveway. This will help seat the pavers and keep them in place.
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7
Apply one inch of the bedding sand to the gravel base. Use a 2x4 board to spread the sand to the one inch thickness. Fill in any low places as needed. Do not compact the sand.
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8
Lay the pavers beginning in a 90-degree corner in the pre-determined pattern. Keep 1/8 inch of space between each paver. Repeat this process until the driveway is completed with the pavers.
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9
Apply the masonry's sand to the top of the pavers and sweep the sand across and down into the spaces to fill in and lock the pavers into place. Use the plate compactor and make several passes to help vibrate the sand down into the grooves.
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10
Apply water over the pavers and additional sand as needed until the grooves are completely filled. Repeat this process for the next couple of days and use and rain settles the sand and pavers into the ground.
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