Steps on Paving Driveways

Site Preparation

• For a driveway that will last years under the heavy weight of a vehicle, the soil below the paving material requires careful preparation. Asphalt and concrete driveways require the ground to be excavated to below grade so that the expansion of water in the soil when it freezes doesn't crack or heave the driveway. Pavers and bricks require an excavated base with enough room for gravel of at least 9 inches deep, according to the Belgard Hardscapes website. Some materials, like pavers and poured concrete, also need tightly packed soil.

Base

• If the soil beneath a driveway doesn't offer sufficient drainage, laying a base of gravel allows water to run through the ground without damaging the paved area. Asphalt and concrete pour directly over a well-maintained gravel driveway, says the Classic Construction website, but pavers tend to need a deeper bed of gravel because they aren't as inflexible as other paving material. Some situations call for pouring a concrete slab to support an asphalt overlay where directly pouring asphalt on the ground wouldn't work.

Laying and Pouring

• Pouring the asphalt or concrete, or laying the pavers, comes as soon as you finish a sturdy base. Set up forms to support the liquid material if you pour asphalt or concrete, and ensure that the day you pour on won't have freezing temperatures or rain. Pavers also need metal or concrete edging materials to prevent the individual pieces from moving apart under pressure, according to Belgard Hardscapes. Unlike the temporary forms used for concrete and asphalt the supports for pavers remain in place permanently.

Finishing

• While a driveway paved with asphalt is done as soon as the material dries and hardens completely, both poured concrete and pavers require extra work. Concrete driveways need control joints cut into them to prevent stress fractures, according to the Fine Homebuilding website, and most mixes need days of careful water control to cure to maximum strength. Packing sand between pavers creates the nearly smooth and uniform surface needed for a long-lasting driveway. Adding decorative options or special treatments to increase surface texture for a better grip are finishing steps.