What Is the Best Choice for My Paver Driveway?

It comes as no surprise that we see more and more paver driveways in San Diego. Pavers are so versatile that they come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention a spectacular array of attractive colors and design options. Whether you’re into the classic design characteristic of Old Town San Diego or something more modern and sleek, your driveway is guaranteed to add curb appeal to your property.

But is is probably the high durability of pavers that makes them stand out among all the other driveway options. It is one of the reasons why more and more people are choosing pavers over concrete without a second thought. Now that you know why pavers are simply better, let’s see which type of pavers is the absolute best solution for your driveway.

What do you put under brick pavers?

Pavers are an excellent choice not only for your driveway but also for the rest of your yard, such as a patio or garden path. Besides, the greater the surface covered by pavers, the less work you’ll have around the yard. As an added perk, you get to save more water, in accordance with the City of San Diego’s water conservation policy.

Owing to the natural materials used to make pavers, you can easily have the best of both worlds: a lawn, plants and flower beds in addition to the pavers. Among these materials is clay, which is used to make brick pavers. When you opt for brick pavers, your contractors will either use gravel, crushed stone or sand for the base.

What is the best base for pavers?

Here are the types of base contractors typically use when installing pavers:

• Sand
• Gravel
• Crushed stone
• Road base
• Compacted soil

As a long-term solution, gravel or crushed stone work best. The well-compacted stones or stone pieces provide the sturdy, stable foundation that your paver driveway needs. This type of base will make it virtually impossible for the pavers to move at all, meaning you won’t have to worry about replacements or repairs.

You should always rely on the recommendations of your contractor. Bear in mind that they might tell you that sand is not always ideal for areas with heavy traffic, such as driveways or paths. Unless properly layered, the material can shift and you obviously do not want that.

Stone dust is not suitable because you would need a very thick layer for the base, otherwise the pavers would tend to loosen over time. Compacted soil is a good solution for a single season, but certainly not for a driveway.

How thick should paver base be?

How thick the paver base should be depends largely on the material type. Paver contractors typically use road base, crushed stone or gravel. If paving a driveway it should be between 6 and 8 inches thick.

Amazing & lasting paver driveways in San Diego

Welcome to Pacific Dreamscapes, where landscaping dreams come true! Our team consists of the very best in the business. We will create the one-of-a-kind design that you will absolutely love and build you a paver driveway that will last you decades. Reaching out to us is a sound investment in your property, guaranteed to increase its curb appeal. Call today!