My motivation for adding this paver driveway extension was a simple one. Our driveway is only just wider than two vehicles, and even though it took me a while to figure it out, I realized that my grass was getting really thin at the edge of it because we were walking on it so much from getting in and out of our vehicles. Rather than trying to plant new grass, I decided that I needed to turn this area into a walkway instead. And it has been so functional for us!
Thus Begins the Exterior Makeover
Besides being an issue for loading and unloading my kids in the car, it would be nicer for parking if the driveway was just a bit wider. In this picture, you can even see some tire tracks where someone went just a bit off the concrete pulling into the driveway.
Right now, I’m on a mission to have a lush and beautiful lawn, so I can’t have anyone driving on or trampling my grass. I just need our driveway to be a little wider, which is where this idea for a paver driveway came in.
Tools
Materials
Preparing the Ground for Pavers
This is the area of my lawn where I added the paver driveway. First, I had to prep the ground so it was ready for pavers.
I purchased this tiller with the intention of using it on my lawn revitalization project, but it’s come in handy for this paver driveway extension. After measuring how far out I would be extending my driveway, I took out the tiller and went after the area of lawn that needed to come out.
I wanted the top of my pavers to sit flush with the existing driveway, so I needed to get some of this dirt out. I shoveled out as much as I could and hauled it with my wheelbarrow to some low spots in my lawn.
After tilling and shoveling, a stiff rake is perfect for smoothing out the dirt you have left.
The last thing I needed to do to prep my ground for pavers was add a road base. It’s a mix of sand and gravel that will settle down onto the dirt, making a sturdy base for our pavers. If you skip this step, you will probably end up with sinking or shifting pavers. Adding the road base underneath gives your paver driveway a firm foundation to rest on.
Again, the stiff rake is perfect for moving the road base around until there is an even layer across the top of the dirt.
After the road base is smoothed out with the rake, it’s time to tamp it down.
Using a tamper like this one, you will start at one end and work your way up to the other, pressing and packing the road base down as you go.
Installing the Paver Driveway Extension
Now that our ground was prepped, I could begin installing the paver driveway.
First, you will lay down some sand and tamp it down to pack it tight. I added the sand in small sections as I worked my way up the driveway. The point of the sand it to allow you to easily adjust the height of your pavers to get them lower or higher where you need them to make sure they’re perfectly level with the edge of your concrete.
Starting in a corner, I laid my first paver. If a corner of it is too low, add some sand in that corner. If it’s too high, take sand away. Easy peasy.
From there, it’s as simple as adding pavers in whatever pattern you choose, and tapping them firmly into place with a rubber mallet.
Sometimes, they need a little tapping from the side as well, just to get them perfectly in place.
As I moved farther up the driveway, I added more sand, tamped it down, and just kept moving along, adding pavers.
All of the pavers for this paver driveway project came from our patio that we removed last year. When we tore out our paver patio in the backyard, opting for a larger concrete patio, I saved all of the pavers knowing I could use them in another project. I love saving money by using materials I already have on hand.
After I got a good way along with that first section of pavers, I thought I noticed just a bit of a slope towards the lawn. I grabbed a scrap piece of wood to check it out, and sure enough, look at that gap there! I removed those few pavers that were sloping down, built it up underneath with more sand, then replaced the pavers.
After that, I kept the board with me to check the pavers as I went. I checked both directions, just to make sure that everything was staying straight as I continued along installing the paver driveway.
Also, I hate to say it, but it took me this far into the project to realize that I should probably wear gloves. My hands were so raw from grabbing the rough brick, and I had many cuts and bruises from missing with my mallot and other semi-embarrassing mishaps. If you value your hands, don’t be like me. Wear gloves.
It’s looking so good already! I could have continued straight up to our front patio, but I decided to add a curved section rather than have a square corner. I think a curve here with the pavers will be really pretty, and having the edge of the pavers curve will be so much easier on me when I mow the lawn. The mower can just follow right along with the curve.
How to Curve a Paver Driveway
For this curved section, most of it will follow the same procedure as the large, straight portion that I just finished.
- Place the sand
- Add a paver
- Tap it in with the mallet
- Check it with the board
I followed those steps, adding as many whole pavers as I could. You can already see that my front sidewalk is not square with the driveway, so there is an angled gap up here. It’s ok, though. We’ll get to it.
Using my tile saw, I cut the pavers down to the sizes that I needed for them to fit into the gap between my paver driveway and my front sidewalk.
As I cut, I installed them by tapping with the rubber mallet just like I did with the rest of the pavers.
Instead of trying to measure then cut, I found it much easier to mark on the paver how much I needed to cut off, then take the paver over to the tile saw and cut on that mark.
Slowly, but surely I got that gap at the top filled in. Now I needed to cut my bricks for the curve.
Before making any cuts, I used a piece of chalk to draw a rough idea of where I’d like the curve to be, then just one paver at a time I used my pencil to mark the actual cut line, cut it on the tile saw, put it back in place, and repeat.
And done! The curve was definitely a little more work, but I will be thanking myself when it comes time to mow my lawn this summer.
Look how good this paver driveway is looking already! Can’t wait to finish it!
Finishing the Paver Driveway With Polymeric Sand
The last step is the fastest and easiest step of the whole entire project. When you lay the pavers, there are little gaps between them, and we need to fill those gaps with polymeric sand.
Using polymeric sand is essential to have a long lasting paver driveway. It drains better than regular sand. I’m less likely to have issues with weeds coming through the pavers. After we wet the polymeric sand at the end, it’s going to harden to be almost like concrete around these pavers, holding them in place for a really long time. Plus, it comes in a bunch of different colors, so you can choose whichever one matches best with your project.
Putting the polymeric sand in is so easy. I just poured it right onto the pavers, then used a broom to sweep it into all of the cracks and gaps.
For a few of the bigger gaps, I used my hands to push the polymeric sand down into the empty space, just to make sure enough sand was going in there.
I continued pouring the polymeric sand and sweeping it into the cracks until I had worked my way down the entire paver driveway extension.
Lastly, I just sprayed it all down with water. My Giraffe hose reel made this part of the job a breeze.
After you have wet down the entire thing, you are done.
Look how the polymeric sand finished off this paver driveway beautifully! It looks so clean and polished, like these pavers have always been here.
I am so happy with how this paver driveway extension looks on the front of my house. Can’t wait till my lawn looks beautiful too!
Not sure you want to try extending your driveway the DIY way? We have hired concrete workers at our house for a sidewalk, as well as our big patio out back. We could have hired them again to widen our driveway with more concrete, rather than do this paver driveway. If you want more insight on hiring concrete workers check out this post.
Looking for another project to upgrade your curb appeal? Check out my mailbox makeover, or how I changed my unused side yard into a beautiful garden.
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