If you need to replace your current driveway, one option is to put in a paver drive instead of a cement one. There are a few different advantages to a paver driveway. It’s easier to repair or replace parts of it, for one. Another advantage is that a paver driveway gives you more options for color and design. You can really transform the front of your home without touching the house itself simply by putting in a paver drive. If you’re considering a paver driveway, here are the basic things you need to do before you can begin the project.
Get Rid of the Old One
First, before you can build any sort of new driveway, you have to get rid of the old one. This means renting a jackhammer or hiring a crew to come and remove the cement. You want to get every bit of material out of there—you should have a dirt foundation left. Once you’ve reached dirt, take a tape measure and measure how deep the foundation is compared to the rest of your yard. You want it to be one foot below the surrounding surfaces.
Do the Math
Now that you see the exact space you need to fill with pavers, take the tape measure and measure it. Once you have the length and the width of the driveway, you can multiply the numbers together to get the total square footage. You’ll need this to know how many pavers you need to purchase.
Select the Pavers
Now that you know how much space you have to fill, it’s time to go shopping for pavers! This can be the most fun part of the project. Remember that you can go with any type of paver you want. You can even mix and match pavers, although this can make it a little more difficult to determine how many you need if you get pavers of different sizes. Be sure to buy a few extra pavers, too, just in case one gets broken or you discover you do need a few more than you thought. It also doesn’t hurt to have a few on hand in case a paver gets broken or stained later.
Now you’re ready to put in your paver driveway! The actual installation does require several steps, so it’s something you’ll want to learn more about in detail. If you have any questions, you can always contact the experts at Island Block & Masonry Supply for help.
