Bricks and pavers offer a classic look for driveways – but they must be installed and maintained with care.
What is a brick driveway?
A brick driveway is composed of brick or tiles made of a tough, fired material laid upon a substrate foundation – it’s all in name really!
What’s the best use?
Brickwork is ideal for matching or complementing any existing brickwork in your home.
Herringbone patterns are the best for creating a strong surface as they lack the straight lines (and thus weakness) of patterns like basket weave or stack bond.
What maintenance is required?
Brick and paved driveways can be high maintenance, but they’ll reward you with an amazing appearance.
Weeding
There’s no such thing as weed-proof paving. As soon as debris collects in the cracks and on the surface, weeds have a place to live.
It really pays to keep on top of weeds, before they get a good foothold and spread their seeds, creating an even larger problem.
Sweeping
It’s easy for dirt to build up between the bricks or pavers, providing a place for plants to grow. Over time, it will also compact down and be harder to remove. Regular sweeping can help keep on top of this problem.
Cleaning
To further remove dirt and debris, an occasional scrub with soapy water is recommended. Avoid any acidic cleaners, as these can damage bricks and paving.
Use a brush with stiff bristles.
What are the minimum and maximum grades?
A grade of at least 2:100 is recommended. Although these driveways may seem porous, the gaps between the bricks or pavers soon fill up with tyre rubber, grime, oil and other debris. The driveway will then act in a
non-porous manner, similar to an asphalt or concrete driveway, and needs a slope to ensure excess water drains away.
Pavers laid adjacent to drains will settle slightly over time, providing a place for water to pool. To avoid this problem, pavers should be laid about 6mm higher around drains and then fall away from these areas.
Bricks and pavers can be comfortably laid in gradients of up to 1:10. For steeper gradients, concrete can be used to maintain the structure of the driveway; a professional should be consulted on how this can be
achieved.
How is it installed?
Choose bricks that will withstand your local weather conditions. Frost-prone areas will need frost-proof pavers, while those need the sea will need pavers that can withstand salt damage.
Bricks and pavers are generally installed in the following manner:
- Excavate 200-300mm
- Create a base with hardcore of at least 150mm
- Cover with fine gravel and level is off
- Ensure good compaction with a vibrating plate or roller
- Lay pavers/bricks over top and brush with fine sand
What will it cost?
Giving a ballpark figure for a brick or paved driveway is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, as the bricks and pavers themselves vary greatly.
When requesting quotes, be sure to have all of your dimensions and requirements on hand, such as the length, width and slope.
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