using bricks to replace driveway? - Page 2

 


You cannot use modern building bricks for paving a driveway.  Use
concrete paver bricks.  As other posters have stated, it must have
a proper foundation.

My house came with paver brick sidewalks and patio.  I spend a
good deal of time every summer spraying Round-up on the weeds.
I absolutely recommend you do not use brick.


Have you considered Google?

A lot depends on how much you pay for brick.  This site looks pretty
good:

http://www.morrisbrick.com/index.php/materials_calc?material_type=pavers

For 4x8" holland pavers (just a basic rectangular brick), you'll need
1620 bricks, 4.4 cubic yards of what they called "quarry process"
(some kind of gravel, it looks like), and 1.667 cubic yards of
stone dust.

If you don't do the job right, you may as well not bother.
My pavers are not particularly well bedded, and they shift a bit.
I don't even drive cars over them.

When I googled "paver brick estimating", I saw in passing that
some site said pavers can be had for as little as 50 cents.  For you,
that would be $810 (minimum) just for the brick.  Frankly, I think
that's wildly optimistic, especially for something that would take
the weight of a car.

The other materials, compactor rental, and so forth would be
additional.

I predict you're going to cold patch and seal your drive way.

Cindy Hamilton

 

On Tue, 8 Jun 2010 10:06:20 -0700 (PDT), Cindy Hamilton


Cosmetics to the house and neighborhood also come into play.
I really like the looks of the pavers, but getting it done right is
important, especially since it's costly.
My wife and I did a small sidewalk to the garage with pavers about 7
years ago.  Maybe 30'' wide by 20' long.  The Dutch style paver in
your link.  Though I knew the right way to do it, she was in a hurry
so we basically just dug out the grass and eye-ball leveled the dirt.
No shaker/tamper or whatever it's called, and no sand.
Didn't even use the anti-growth fabric.
Did use the heavy plastic edgers staked on the borders.
It's a bit wavy now and I have to whack it about twice a year, but
it's still nice.
But a small sidewalk and a driveway are different animals.
When I decide to replace my concrete driveway I'll price a paver job.
I do like them, and would pay some premium, but like concrete, it has
to be done right.
I certainly wouldn't do it myself.
In fact I would check references and go to look at the jobs.
Since they are relatively "new" I'm not sold on how they hold up over
some years.

--Vic