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Paving stones or cobblestones – what should I use to build a driveway?

Paving stones or cobblestones – what should I use to build a driveway?
It takes approx. 4 minutes to read this article

The driveway to the garage improves communication, so it should be paved with an appropriate material. Which one will work best?

Preparing the ground

In order to prepare the ground for the new surface, first assess whether the condition of the existing driveway is suitable as a substrate for the new finish. Any irregularities or cracks disqualify such a driveway. Most often, the driveway surface should be removed by removing the old, paved layer and removing any traces of plants and soil containing humus.

The strength of the soil is significantly affected by its substructure – the design depends on the anticipated loads that result from its use. If the soil is permeable and the driveway will be used only by passenger cars, it is enough to lay the paving on a sand layer from 5 to 10 cm thick.

układanie kostki
Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer, from: pixababy.com

On the other hand, with higher loads, the resistance of the pavement is important – then it is advisable to use a cement-sand ballast in the ratio of 1:12. In an impermeable area, under the ballast there should be a layer of gravel or compactor with a thickness of 10 to 15 cm.

When the ground is impermeable, and there will be more cars on the driveway, it is necessary to take care of a thicker layer of sub-base. In this case, the lowest layer should be stone stamping, then gravel, and finally sand or sand-gravel ballast. If the pavement will be used by trucks, the foundation layer must be about 30 cm.

Driveway surface materials

Making the surface of the driveway from small elements is a great way to harden it. This can be done using

  • clinker,
  • stone blocks,
  • concrete blocks.

The surface made of those materials is simple in construction and easy to repair. Another advantage of such paving is its aesthetics – concrete cubes can be used for arranging various patterns or mosaics.

kostka brukowa
Image by Alicja, from: pixabay.com

Clinker paving

Clinker as a material is ideal for a driveway because of:

  • low water absorption structure,
  • resistance to weather conditions,
  • resistance to pressure and damage.

Clinker paving is a material valued by investors due to its solid appearance and wide range of colors. Clinker paving bricks, which are hand-made and have a rough texture, are very impressive.

Stone paving blocks

It is made of hard rocks such as:

  • basalt,
  • syenite,
  • gabbro,
  • porphyry,
  • granite.

Stone pavement is very resistant to abrasion and influence of atmospheric factors. The main advantage of this material is its unique appearance – individual elements have various colours and shapes. Stone cube as a natural material ages nicely and looks always elegant. The most common dimensions are: 4 x 6, 7 x 9, 8 x 11 and 15 x 17 cm.

Usually, cubes 6 cm thick are used for driveways of low traffic intensity. On driveways of higher traffic intensity it is advisable to use pavers 8 cm thick.

Concrete sett

Concrete sett is much cheaper than stone sett but it is also less resistant to mechanical damages. This material is available in many different colors and patterns. We can find, among others, paving blocks resembling various kinds of stones or models of original shape.

Most often, concrete pavers come in subdued colors, but you can also find pavers with intense colors in DIY stores. The edges of this material can be sharp or rounded. The face layer of paving blocks can be smooth or rough – with the texture resembling stone imitation. Paving blocks of 6 and 7 cm thickness are the best choice for a driveway – the higher the load on the drive, the thicker the blocks should be.

Choosing the right material for the drive is important because it influences the comfort of use. It is advisable to make a driveway of the most durable material possible.

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