Though they are often
referred to as "cement pavers," that term is a bit misleading. Cement
(usually Portland cement) is a primary ingredient in all concrete, but it is
not the only one. Concrete also contains sand, aggregate (such as gravel), and
water as well as various additives for color and specific performance
characteristics. Concrete pavers are made with a dry concrete mix containing
cement, sand, gravel, and pigments. The wet mix is poured into a mold, which is
vibrated to compress the concrete, and the concrete is allowed to cure. The
resulting paver is capable of withstanding at least 8,000 psi of pressure,
compared to about 3,000 psi with standard poured concrete.
How Long Will a Concrete Paver
Driveway Last?
A properly installed and maintained concrete paver
driveway can be expected to last 25 to 50 years.
How Is a Concrete Paver Driveway
Installed?
The first step in installing concrete pavers is to
excavate the grass and loose soil. Then, a gravel base is laid down and
compacted thoroughly, followed by a layer of sand. A basic driveway will have 1
inch of sand over 4 to 6 inches of gravel, but for driveways that need to
handle heavy vehicles, a base of 10 to 12 inches is recommended. The base is
also graded to facilitate water runoff.
Once the base is ready, edging is installed along the
sides of the driveway to contain the pavers and keep them snug. To install the
pavers, they are simply set in place and fitted tightly together, using a
string line to keep the rows straight. The pavers can be cut with a masonry saw
to fit at edges and corners.
When all of the pavers are down, the entire surface is
compacted with a plate compactor to set the pavers into the sand base. During
the compacting stage, sand may be swept across the surface so it gradually
fills the small cracks between the pavers, tightening them into a rigid, more
monolithic structure.
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