How to Build a Concrete Paver Driveway

Contact the appropriate utility inspection service to locate any underground wires or pipes that might interfere with the project.

Stake out the location of the driveway. Drive stakes at the corners of the project and connect the stakes with carpenter's string to visualize the project.

Remove existing material from project site. You might need heavy tools such as jackhammers to breakup existing concrete or pavement.

Remove any grass and roots from lawn areas. Excavate the entire area to a depth equal to the thickness of the paver plus the depth of the planned base materials. The base material for driveways should be about 12 inches thick, according to the website Concrete Network. If the paver is 4 inches thick, excavation should be 16 inches below the intended top surface of the concrete paver driveway.

Add about 4 inches of gravel or crushed stone to the excavated area. Compact the fill with vibrating plate compactor. Add 4 more inches of gravel and repeat the compacting process until the proper level of the fill, usually about 12 inches, is reached.

Place edge restraints, plastic or concrete pieces that establish the edge of the driveway, in place. Use steel spikes to hold the edge restraints in place. The edge restraints hold the pavers in place and prevent the driveway pavers from spreading or separating after installed.

Add about 1 inch of loose sand to the compacted gravel base.

Set the pavers in place following the appropriate pattern for the paver design. Keep the pavers straight by running a carpenter's string from stakes placed at the appropriate positions. The string can also be used to maintain the proper level of the concrete pavers if it is placed at this level.

Compact the pavers into the loose sand with a vibrating plate compactor. Spread more loose sand over the top of the pavers. Sweep the sand around the driveway allowing it to settle into the seams or cracks between the pavers.