using bricks to replace driveway?

 

   We have an asphalt drive, about 20 feet long, and maybe 18 feet wide,
which needs replaced.

   I've seen a number of brick streets in the old sections of town, and
have wondered how in the world they have lasted as long as they did.
I've considered renting a jackhammer, then laying down a fine layer of
gravel, and placing brick for our front drive.

   However, Lowe's and the other big hardware stores I've checked only
seem to have brick with holes in it.

   Anybody ever done a project of this size on their own?


   I've been quoted between $2k and $4k to have the whole thing replaced
with concrete.  I could probably cold patch and then seal it for $400.

   Anybody have an idea how much it might cost to do with brick?

 


My house came with a gravel driveway.  After 10 years or so, I got estimates
of around 5k to have it paved.  I  ended up buying more gravel at the time.
A few years later, I decided I wanted it paved, but rather than asphalt or
concrete, I decided to go with EP Henry pavers because I liked the way they
look.

This is a big deal, because vehicles tend to be heavy.  They dug down at
least 2 feet (maybe more) carted all that stuff away, laid down gravel and
sand, compacted it, levelled everything off, then laid down the pavers.
Last step was getting some kind of sand into the cracks between the pavers.
There was heavy machinery involved and at least 3 or 4 guys to do the labor,
and it took over a week, maybe two - it was years ago, and my memory is hazy
on this point.

All in all, I think using bricks would be similar.  A big job for one guy
with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, though I guess it could be done if you can
park on the street for a while (like a month or three).  Since you already
have a paved driveway, maybe the foundation work is already there and you'd
"only" need to take up the old paving, level everything off, and lay down
the brick.  I don't remember what it cost, but concrete or asphalt would
have been cheaper.  But the pavers look great.

 

Ohioguy wrote:

have brick with holes in it.

Yeah, those are the modern extruded bricks.

Those places do have pavers with no holes tho.


Yep, plenty do. Its not that hard.


concrete.

I prefer that myself, particularly for working on the car etc.

You may or may not be allowed to work on the car tho,
some US home owner fascist groups dont allow that.


Price the pavers.

 


brick streets in citys tend to be brick over a thick concrete base,
like 1 foot thick concrete covered with brick for appearance.
otherwise the vehicles heavy weight cause high and low areas and over
time poor appearance.

your far better off just repaving to do brick right costs so uch its
far more than repaving

 


That wouldn't be an adequate base, especially in your area; the ground
freezes up there.


Stop asking for "bricks" and ask for "pavers". There's a big difference.


No, just seen it done on TV (This Old House Hour). To get some idea of
how it's done, check their web site.



I'd go with the concrete, but make sure the quotes are equivalent--same
amount of base, same thickness of slab (you'r probably need 6"), same
finishing, etc.


A lot more. There's more labor involved.


Gary

--
Gary Heston  gheston@hiwaay.net   http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

If you want to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
go plant trees.