How to Lay Brick Pavers for a Driveway

Draw a driveway design to scale on a piece of graph paper with a pencil. Calculate the area of your driveway to determine the number of pavers necessary by multiplying the length of the designed driveway by it's width. Purchase enough pavers to cover the area, plus an additional 10 percent; use stones between 3 and 6 inches thick. Use thicker stones to support larger vehicles.

Plant lawn flags around the perimeter of the proposed driveway according to your plan.

Excavate a foundation hole for your driveway that's 10 inches deep using a spade. Compress the bottom of the hole with a plate compactor to provide a firm setting for the driveway that won't settle over time.

Fill the bottom of the excavation with a 6-inch layer of MOT/crusher run, a combination of various sized gravel. Compress the layer of gravel with the plate compactor until it's 4 inches thick.

Cover the gravel with a 4-inch layer of sharp sand. Compress this layer with the plate compactor to reduce it to a 2-inch thickness.

Put on a pair of work gloves and a face mask to protect yourself while handling the mortar. Mix the mortar with water in a wheelbarrow using a hoe until you have a mixture that's the consistency of peanut butter. Apply a 1-inch layer of mortar onto the sand, spreading it using a steel trowel.

Lay the brick pavers into the mortar, leaving 1/5 inch of space between the bricks to allow for expansion of the surface due to changing temperatures. Tap the pavers firmly into the mortar using a rubber-headed mallet to level the surface of the stones. Place a carpenter's level across adjoining stones to make sure they're level. Adjust the level of the pavers by using the rubber mallet to sink the stones further, or by adding a little mortar beneath the stones to raise them in place.

Cut the stones if necessary using a skill saw with a diamond-tipped blade. Measure the length necessary and mark a cutting line according to the measurement with a piece of chalk. Cut along the marked edge with the skill saw. Suppress the dust generated by cutting brick pavers by attaching a water hose to the saw and turning on the water to sustain a consistent water pressure of at least 0.5 L per minute. Wear a face mask and safety goggles to protect your lungs and eyes from the dust generated.

Surround the driveway parameter with a paver edge restraint to create a clear edge between the driveway and the lawn. Press the restraint as closely against the edge of the pavers as possible and then anchor it in position by driving 10-inch steel spikes through the holes in the restraint into the ground with a hammer.

Sweep polymeric sand into the spaces between the pavers using a push broom to fill them completely. The polymeric sand hardens when you apply water to create a durable surface and keep the pavers in place.

Lay a urethane pad over the driveway, covering the pavers. Rent the pad from an equipment rental shop. Compact the surface with the plate compactor to settle the sand into the joints. Sweep more sand into the joints, filling the space created from settling the sand. Remove any remaining sand from the surface of the pavers. Wash the patio down with a hose to remove all excess sand and to activate the hardener in the sand filling the paver joints. Direct the water at the surface of the pavers rather than the joints between, allowing the trickle of water into the joints to activate the sand without washing it away. Wait the manufacturer suggested time for the mortar to cure.

Seal the driveway surface with stone sealant by spraying a layer of sealant across the bricks. Allow the sealant to dry for 48 hours before using the driveway.