Paving over existing and new gravel driveway - My first paver project.

[Fizpez]

I really love this site - as someone who is going to attempt their first paving project I have found more answers here than the rest of the internet combined, awesome.

My intention is to use concrete pavers to cover over an existing gravel driveway. Most of the driveway has existed for 60+ years and although a few ruts are evident it is in generally good condition and very well compacted. The existing base is a minimum of 150 mm deep.

A new addition to the property moved the location of the garage and required the addition of ~25m of new gravel driveway. This also has a depth of at least 125 mm but being only a year old has had considerably less compaction over the years.

My intention was to have the old gravel evened out mechanically and cover it with up to another 25-50 mm of road base (plate compaction).

I was also going to plate compact the new gravel driveway, then cover with 50 mm more of sub-base (the new gravel is somewhat large pieces (15-40 mm) and I am worried about the bedding layer of concrete sand falling in to those relatively large voids. I plan to use 50 mm of concrete sand as bedding.

A few questions:

1. Any major problems with my plan especially with regards to the new gravel areas?

2. There are existing places on the old gravel driveway that are well compacted and of sufficient thickness already - would I be safe placing the bedding sand directly on this old layer? For drainage grading this would be preferable to building up other areas even more.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

[msh paving]

one answer , take gravel off, it will not compact and make a good base, when you say top up will 50mm road base are you thinking type1, 50mm is not enough to get compaction on 50mm thick will be hard to rake out as type 1 is 40mm down stone size, your sand need to be 40mm thick max. screeded depth, MSH

[r896neo]

As above you need to remove the gravel.

Then when i have done block paving over an old gravel driveway sub base i think the best thing is to run a toothed digger bucket into the sub base to open up the top 3-4 inches, then you can add extra MOT and also make good on falls and levels.

I think adding fresh MOT into old ruts etc will lead to uneven compaction.

[seanandruby]

As above you need to remove the gravel.

Then when i have done block paving over an old gravel driveway sub base i think the best thing is to run a toothed digger bucket into the sub base to open up the top 3-4 inches, then you can add extra MOT and also make good on falls and levels.

I think adding fresh MOT into old ruts etc will lead to uneven compaction.

Not one to be pedantic :;): but i think that advice is fraught with danger. A toothed bucket through an existing drive could see you ripping out services if they are high, has been known.