Paver Preparation for a Driveway

Calculate the depth of your paver driveway's base. Allow 12 inches for the gravel layer and 1 inch for the sand layer. Add the thickness of your pavers to the subtotal of 13 inches. Subtract 1/4 inch from the sum of gravel, sand and your pavers; this 1/4-inch subtraction allows your pavers to rest 1/4 inch above the surrounding ground's surface.

Stretch a tape measure across the building site and mark the perimeter of the driveway with marking paint. Spray marking paint directly onto the ground's surface. Pound stakes along the driveway's perimeter with a mallet. Space stakes 2 to 3 feet apart around curves and up to 10 feet apart along straightaways. Tie string line between all of the stakes. Use a tape measure to adjust the string's height to approximate the slope of the ground's surface. Because the string mimics the ground's slope, you may use the string as a depth gauge during excavation.

Remove earth from the inside of the staked perimeter with excavation equipment, such as a loader, tractor or backhoe. Alternatively, excavate the driveway base with a shovel. Occasionally check the base's depth with a tape measure. Measure the distance between the string and the ground. Run the tape measure from the string to the bottom of the excavation. Subtract the distance from the string to the ground from the distance between the string and the bottom of the excavation; the product of this calculation equals the depth of the excavation.

Pour approximately 3 inches of coarse gravel into the excavated driveway base. Pound a tamper across the gravel's surface to compact the gravel. Add and tamp the remaining gravel in 3-inch layers until you achieve a 12-inch-thick base layer of gravel.

Lay paver edging around the perimeter of the gravel base. Secure the edging to the ground with paver edging stakes; pound the stakes through the edging and into the ground.

Pour a 1-inch layer of sand over the coarse gravel base. Pound a tamper across the surface of the sand layer to compact the sand and encourage the sand to settle. Lay a 2x4 screed across the sand layer. Pull the screed across the sand to flatten and level its surface. Lay pavers directly atop the leveled sand.