Recently, we saw, in someone?s yard, a newly installed area (about 8? x 2.5?) of pavers with sand joints, that had been installed alongside an existing asphalt driveway. Unfortunately for the homeowner, it was poor construction.
Using pavers along side a driveway can be a great solution for many reasons, such as adding more space to a narrow driveway, or installing an entry walk next to the driveway.
If you have an existing asphalt driveway, and you want pavers next to it you?ll want an understanding of the proper construction methods.
If an asphalt driveway is installed correctly, wherever it does not abut another structure, it should have 45 degree tamped edges, and the aggregate base will extend 6? beyond the edge of the asphalt.
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This sketch shows a properly constructed asphalt edge. The 45 degree tamped edge is typically not visible because it should be covered with topsoil, lawn, or other material.
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We could see the asphalt edge of the driveway because it wasn?t covered, and it looked like it had been installed correctly. We don?t know if the paver installation was a homeowner?s DIY project, or the handiwork of an unskilled contractor. What resulted from this poorly installed project was about a 2?-3? gap between the 45 degree edge and the paver, which they filled with sand. Sand is not a stable material, so what would happen when the sand in this huge gap becomes displaced by foot traffic or a major rainfall?
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This in how the pavers were installed in this homeowner?s yard. This is poor construction.
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For this project to have been installed correctly, after the area was excavated, and the new base for the pavers was installed, the edge of the asphalt would need to be sawcut to remove the 45 degree tamped edge only where the pavers would be installed. You can use a circular saw with an asphalt cutting blade for the sawcut.
The tamped edge would now need to be supported to remain stable, and that?s where the pavers would come in. The new paver installation would need to abut directly up against the cut asphalt edge, creating an uninterrupted surface between the driveway and the pavers, and to provide a durable vertical support for the sawcut asphalt edge.
Really, why waste time and money, not only on poor construction, but on what could become an unattractive area in a short time?
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