The Brew Cabin

I'm just about to embark on laying my block pave drive. I'm going to use a baggeridge clay block paving brick. I have two major problems. The 1st one is, I need to dig out around 12 inches of hardcore and soil at the front of my house in order to fit a drain at one side of my drive and run a 4" diameter drain water pipe from this drain running back across the front of house and connect this pipe to the drainage system which runs onto the road. Then I'll need to surround the drainwater pipe in sand, put a layer of hard core on top, then another layer of sand and fit the block pavers on top as well make the top level of the paver maybe 1 - 1.5 inches below my damp course. The 2nd problem is, the levels will have to be correct so the drive slopes left to right as you look at the house and feeds the rainwater into the drain.

My main areas of concern are:
Is this job too big for a novice clay block paver and what's the rule when laying block pavers and levels. Is it best to sort the levels out first and then lay the block pavers or sort the levels out and then lay the block pavers as you go along.
I've had a quote of £1500 to do the whole job, the drives is 60 square metres, should I do the job myself or let the experts do they're work.

All comments and advice would welcomed and appreciated!

Thanks

Why would the level of your pavers be only "1-1½ inches below dpc"? This is not sufficient - as it says throughout the site, you need to be 150mm (6") below dpc.

"Rules" for laying block paving, whether they are concrete blocks or clay pavers are given on the main website - please read the block paving section first before posting questions that are covered in excruciating detail therein.

the quote you have had seems like half price and a handshake to me sounds good but for that reason avoid at all costs.