Content of the material
Brick Paver Cost
You should be able to buy the materials needed for a brick paver driveway for about $5 per square foot. If you do the job yourself, the labor will be free. Professional installation will probably start at about $10 to $20 per square foot, although fancier designs and pricier bricks can drive that price higher. This makes brick pavers a fairly expensive paving material when compared to poured concrete ($6 to $10 per square foot). Clay brick pavers are also slightly more expensive than concrete pavers.
Design
Brick pavers make for a very attractive classic paving surface that can work well with almost any home style. Brick paving is a far more attractive paving surface than poured concrete, but when compared to concrete pavers, the design options are more limited. Brick pavers can be arranged in different patterns, but the sizes are all rectangular, and colors are limited to browns and reds. Concrete pavers, on the other hand, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, giving you more flexibility.
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Work Sand Into the Gaps
The last step is to fill the joints with sand. Sweep the sand into the joints, leaving a thin layer on top. Then let it dry and sweep it in again, working the broom back and forth until the joints are full. Save some sand to sweep into the joints after the first rain. Your path will need little or no maintenance; in fact, it will just continue to look better as it ages.
Adjust the Sand to Fit the Cobbles
Remove or add sand as needed to accommodate the uneven thickness of the granite cobbles and to keep the top of the path flat.
4. Add a Layer of Sand
Pour 2 inches of sand on top of the gravel layer. Tamp and level this layer using your tamper until the sand is firm. Lightly sprinkle the area using a garden hose to allow the material to settle completely.
Step 4
Pour and spread the sand and gravel fill until it is 4 inches deep. This will support the bricks and allow for rainwater drainage. Mark a metal stake at 4 inches, and push it into the gravel and sand fill to determine the depth.
Tools Materials
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Backhoe
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Shovel
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Garden rake
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Plate compactor
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Circular saw with diamond blade
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Mason line
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Garden stakes
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Steel pipe – 2” diameter
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2×4 lumber
DIY considerations
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While a small walk or even a moderately sized terrace could be handled as a DIY project, the challenges of creating the ideal base make any sort of brick paver installation a task for the experts. They know how to lay the foundation, place the pavers, and finish the work in ways that ensure many years of good looks and performance.
How Are Brick Pavers Made?
Natural brick pavers are made from prepared clay that is cast in molds (usually rectangular), and then baked at a high temperature in a kiln. Clay bricks made in this may will have a smooth surface on each side.
Alternatively, brick pavers can also be made by extruding clay through a die. This process creates a column-like length of brick material that is then cut with a wire to create individual bricks. These bricks are called extruded bricks or wire-cut bricks and have more surface texture. This texture makes extruded bricks more slip-resistant than molded bricks.
Some brick pavers are crafted with ridged edges to create an interlocking paver system for easier installation.
6. Add More Pavers to Form Your Chosen Pattern
Continue laying additional rows in this same manner. The pattern that you choose is up to you, but it helps to lay out a few pavers in a complete pattern on the driveway so you can refer to it as you create your pattern on the sand. If you need to cut pavers to fit a curve or to fit into your pattern, cut them using a hand-held saw with a diamond blade.
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