Stage 1: Remove existing driveway

The first stage is to remove your existing drive way, this could be concrete, tarmac or concrete flags. The use of a mini digger makes this easier and is normally completed within one day with all the debris placed into a skip or a grabber lorry & taken away. The depth to be removed from the top of your existing driveway is 250mm (10”) to allow for 125mm (6”) of hardcore, 50mm (2”) of sand & 50mm (2”) for the block paving. If the ground is too soft we will remove more earth or clay & replace with additional hardcore.

Note:
If your driveway is falling towards the house then you simply reverse the fall and levels from the pavement towards an existing rain water gully or we may install drainage channels along the front of the property to catch the surface water which is then directed into a soak a way within your garden area, a soak a way or rain garden is now required in England to comply with the block paving planning permission ; this came into force October 1st 2008. We do not build rain gardens or soak a ways close to building foundations. For small driveways a minimum distance of 3m should is suitable but it depends on the ground conditions and a greater distance may be required.

Stage 2: Geo textile membrane layer 

Now we place a geo textile layer on top of the subsoil to the total area of your driveway which helps prevent the intermixing of the sub soil or clay and the hardcore yet still permits water to flow freely it also stops any weeds from growing.

 Stage 3: Compact the hardcore

Now type 1 hard core is laid to the total area of your new driveway on top of the geo textile membrane to a minimum depth of 150mm, your hardcore now needs to be compacted to give a stable sub base for your new block paving; this can be achieved with either a vibrating roller or a vibrating plate. On larger areas or where heavy vehicular access is needed we always use the vibrating roller to ensure the sub base is very well compacted.

Vibrating plate 

For smaller areas where the large roller can't access a vibrating plate is used to compact the hardcore. The compacting of the hardcore is completed when we are satisfied that the sub base of your new drive is firm and has no soft spots.

Stage 4: A Firm edge restraint  

Any area of your block paving must be surrounded by a firm edge restraint to prevent the blocks and the sand on which they are laid from creeping sideways.

Stage 5: Drainage Channel

Drainage channels are now required in England on any new block paving driveways to direct the surface water into a soak away or rain garden, these are placed across the pavement or garage or to the front of your property.

Stage 6: Fix New Manhole Cover  

All block paving manhole covers are bedded into place.