Construction

Driveways and pedestrian pavements that are to be laid over soft ground (clay included as it is soft when wet) should be prepared by compacting thin layers of road-base to make a firm, flat foundation.

Pavers should be laid on washed river sand. Use two electrical conduits as guide rails to screed the sand. Conduits should be curved so rainwater will run off the finished pavement.

Lay the pavers with a 2 or 3mm gap. This will allow the jointing sand to fill between the pavers, locking them together and preventing spalling if they move when loaded.

When the full pavers are laid, cut and fit the part-units around the edges then compact the area with a short-stroke, high-frequency vibrator or a straight plank of hardwood and a lump hammer. Sweep sand into the joints and re-compact.

There are many ways to restrain the pavement edges. A concrete haunch is often used. It should have weep-holes to allow water to get away as it drains through the bedding sand.

Section through pavement